Clarence enjoy derby victory over Victoria

CLARENCE Blues notched up a thumping away victory over local rivals Victoria Saxons in Division 1 of the Weston & District Over-60s League.

The match could not have been closer up to 10 ends, when it was 51-51. But, led by Jon Loveridge, Dougie Grier and Maurice Phillips on the draughty rink six, Clarence gradually pulled away to win by 32 shots.

They finished up on five of the six rinks to take 18 points. The Phillips triple, who had been 17-0 and 20-1 ahead, finished 22 shots clear, while Richard Crawford’s trio, 8-12 down with five ends left, won by seven.

A seven on the 16th end helped Mick Edlin’s men, who included Blues’ away debutant Barry Benn, turn a two-shot deficit into victory by one.

The other winning Clarence skips were Chris Read and club captain David Stott, the latter having scored a six on end 15.

Victoria Saxons 80 (2), Clarence Blues 112 (18): B Rossiter, J Keay, C Read 16-9; T Ward, B Ballinger, R Crawford 19-12; A Gardiner, T Mannion, D Stott 20-15; R Smith, J Burgess, G Barlow 10-20; B Benn, D Thomson, M Edlin 19-18; J Loveridge, D Grier, M Phillips 28-6.

Clarence’s annual match against St Andrews for the Jim McClelland Shield proved one-sided, with Saints, the home team, winning five of the six rinks. Trevor Ward, Dougie Grier, Tony Mannion and Clarence club champion Trevor Pritchard managed a draw.

St Andrews 137, Clarence 93: F Al-Hinai, J Kelloway, B Duffy, G Barlow 17-22; A Bishop, J Hicks, J Burgess, M Edlin 15-17; B Rossiter, C Tippett, K Marshall, D Stott 17-24; T Ward, D Grier, T Mannion, T Pritchard 18-18; B Benn, M Skyrme, J Edwards, C Read 10-37; R Smith, M Davies, D Jackman, R Crawford 16-19.

AWAY to Watchet, it ended with both teams winning three rinks apiece, but Ashcombe were the victors by five shots overall.

Ashcombe 111, Watchet 106 (mixed friendly): M Main, S Andrews, S Hopkins, E Roberts 28-11; R Counsell, L Paterson, P Sheppard, J McInally 25-12; S Noyes, S Baynton, T Morgan, E Hopkins, 11-25; A Brigham-Curtis, J Marlow, J Main, S Weaden 13-26; L Owens, S Hedges, M Parry, J Whitlow 24-10; B Benstead, M Paterson, N Counsell, A Goacher 10-22.

Ashcombe won again in this mixed friendly versus Ardagh, only taking two of the five rinks played, they scraped through to win by four shots

Ashcombe 94, Ardagh 90 (mixed friendly): B Miles, M Macmahon, N Counsell, T Morgan 13-17; G Pople, F McCarthy, G Tottle, B Webber 23-11; G Tucker, M Paterson, M Tucker, K Wheeler 11-21; J McKenzie, D Underhay, L Paterson, J Taylor 29-21; B Duncan, B Underhay, B Benstead, J Wilkinson 18-20.

In the Over-60s league game against Yatton, Ashcombe took four of the six rinks played to win the match 102-95. The rink of M Field, G Sansam and D Carr were triumphant with a score of 33-8, while A Freke, G Mills and L Day won by an impressive 21-5.

Ashcombe 102, Yatton 95 (Over-60s): A Coombes, E Roberts, I Shannon 17-15; M Field, G Sansam, D Carr 33-8; A Freke, G Mills, L Day 21-5; F Bertram, M Parry, J Main 16-14; R Counsell, A Cracknell, S Hedges 9-27; D Freestone, E Hopkins, T Williams 6-26.

Severn Vale were the winners by three shots in this mixed friendly, even though the rink of A Wilmot, C Vardon, C Hedges and L Cox won 31-4.

Ashcombe 106 Severn Vale 109 (mixed friendly): J Mathew, G Tucker, P Sheppard, B Benstead 18-14; R Counsell, M Paterson, D Wynne, T Bass 23-15; D Underhay, F McArthy, E Roberts, E Hopkins 13-23; S Appleby, S Andrews, D Bleasdale, S Hopkins 9-29; A Wilmot, C Vardon, C Hedges, L Cox 31-4; L Owens, B Alden, F Bertram, J Whitlow 12-24.

This was an extremely close match with the Crusaders winning overall by just two shots, each team taking three rinks.

Crusaders 102, Burnham 100 (Over-60s): B Benstead, J Marlow, G Wilkinson 15-21; G Tottle, G Kinsey, B Webber 17-20; M Bass, A Tittle, J Taylor 19-16; A Wilmot, D Bleasdale, T Bass 9-21; T Morgan, M Southwood, J Creasey 24-11; J Hornett, T Cottrell, J Whitlow 18-11.

Taking four of the six rinks, the Knights were victorious against Clevedon Prom winning the game 105-84. On two of the rinks there, was only a one shot difference for the Knights.

Knights 105, Clevedon Prom 84 (Over-60s): G Tucker, F Bertram, K Wheeler 20-6; M Field, G Sansam, A Cracknell 12-22; B Miles, R Counsell, J Main 14-18; N Coombes, M Parry, L Day 16-15; M Paterson, G Mills, E Hopkins 16-15; D Freestone, R Cole, DA Williams 27-8.

VICTORIA’S Over-6’s teams were both in action over the week, but despite some spirited efforts, were unable to register a win.

The Saxons hosted Clarence Blues and again lost a match after leading. The rink of Ken Harvey, Brian Pocock and Derek Hurst achieved the sole rink success to earn a consolation two points.

The Saxons travelled to play Portishead and with a rink short and 10 penalty shots only just failed to win the game. Mike Cooper’s rink of Terry Gatehouse and Keith Holland enjoyed an excellent rink win of 14 shots and John Newman skipped his rink to a competitive comeback and with a drawn rink, the Saxons collected a hard won five points.

Victoria Saxons 80 (2), Clarence Blues 112 (18): P Lunn, R Fenwick, M Stocker 18-19; R Rockett, A Barnes, M Manning 6-28; M Milliner, J Newman, M Campbell 15-20; H Whyte, A Bray, M Taylor 9-16; K Harvey, B Pocock, D Hurst 20-10; T Gatehouse, K Holland, D Williams 12-19.

Victoria Saxons 86 (5), Portishead 95(15): R Rockett, A Barnes, M Manning 11-19;

M Milliner, M Campbell, J Newman 22-17; T Gatehouse, K Holland, M Cooper 25-11; P Lunn, G Rain, M Stocker 15-15; J Mingo-West, B Pocock, D Hurst 13-23.

Victoria Vikings played on a challenging rink at Nailsea and were victors on three rinks, but were defeated overall by 13 shots. However, the Vikings continue to show steady improvement with six points earned from this match.

Victoria Vikings 105 (6), Nailsea 118 (14): C Santosuosso, C Chudley, D Jones 18-25; J Griffiths, R Bromet, A Shattock 21-14; R Jacobs, G Richards, G Frost 20-12; R Sparkes, J Fenn, G Hodge 26-13; J Langridge, A Waygood, E Sage 13-23; T Gilbert, J Turton, J Smart 7-31.

Victoria hosted Mountain Ash in a most enjoyable mixed friendly, winning four of the six rinks. Victoria’s top scoring rink was Pete Wyatt, Sue Pocock, Sue Cooper and Colin Gazzard with a convincing win of 21 shots.

Victoria 123, Mountain Ash 94: D Beard, F Waters, S Newman, D Jones 28-13; C Sage, P Fisher, D Fairhurst, J Howell 17-19; S Milliner, E Sage, J Newman, M Stocker 17-15; B Pocock, M Milliner, M Chudley, M Cooper 19-13; P Wyatt, S Pocock, S Cooper, C Gazzard 29-8; B Williams, C Stevens, A Bray, M Taylor 13-26.

In the North Somerset Bowls Association Four Dimensions competition, Victoria came out on top against Ashcombe in a game producing excellent bowling from both teams. While the singles and pairs were close games, Victoria’s triples and rinks both had excellent wins. Victoria will now play either Clevedon Prom or Banwell in the next round.

Victoria 3, Ashcombe 1 - singles: A Bray 21-18; pairs: N Stocker, M Cooper 15-18; triples: P Wyatt, D Fairhurst, C Gazzard 27-8; fours: D Beard, J Newman, P Leadbeater, M Stocker 28-10.

WINSCOMBE played a friendly mixed game at home against Mark Moor, which Winscombe won by three rinks to two and by a total of 21 shots.

The friendly triples match away to the Isle of Wedmore was played on a cloudy cold afternoon and ended in a close result with Winscombe losing by just three shots over the five rinks.

The match played at home against North Petherton on a sunny, but cool afternoon was won by Winscombe by 12 shots despite only winning two of the five rinks.

The away game at Bristol was finely matched on three rinks with the fourth rink coming up against stiff opposition which meant that despite Winscombe winning on two rinks by a small margin and drawing the third, the match was lost overall.

Winscombe 108, Mark Moor 87 (mixed friendly): R Weller, P Heal, J Sprouting, S Caddy 24-11; M Sprouting, J Rush, M Nash, R Birmingham 18-21; C Hopes, A Bougourd, P Fredersdorff, M Adams 26-17; M Newing, S Ovenden, W Weller, R Lowman 28-13; P Hopes, R Sapsford, S Lowman, M Adams 12-25.

Winscombe 81, Wedmore 84 (friendly): D Peakall, J Sprouting, M Adams 17-19; G Lloyd, P Fredersdorff, M Dorrington 14-22; M Newing, M Nash, R Lacy 12-19; P John, G Coombe, R Birmingham 17-11; P Hopes, W Ainsworth, A Dudley 21-13.

Winscombe 99, North Petherton 87 (friendly): R Sapsford, P Cast, M Nash, R Lacy 23-24; M Newing, J Smith, W Ainsworth, M Adams 14-20; P Hopes, M Hunter, P Fredersdorff, T Ellis 31-9; P John, F Ward, B Paul, R Lowman 13-25; D Beaverstock, R Weller, G Coombe, R Birmingham 18-9.

Winscombe 61, Bristol 81 (friendly): J Sprouting, D Johnson, A Dudley, S Eastment 18-18; K Whatling, M Hunter, P Fredersdorff, G Neville 20-17; D Leach, B Paul, W Ainsworth, R Lowman 15-14; G Lloyd, R Weller, M Nash, A Watts 8-32.

WEDMORE men’s team have made a good start to their first season in the Clevedon and District Over-60s Triples League, playing three matches.

At home against Portishead, they won five out of six rinks with a total score of 122 to 84 and then lost to Portishead RBL in another home fixture.

Wedmore 98, Portishead RBL 121: V Matthews, J Clark, R Barron 12-16; B Keen, D Collins, R Hughes 14-27; M Green, S Fisher, R Newell 19-16; G Dodd, J Runciman, K Burt 22-12; J Harvey, T Hamblin, D Stansfield 16-25; T Counsell, R Norris, K Petit 15-25.

The last of the Over-60s matches was at home against Clevedon with each team winning three rinks, but Wedmore winning overall.

Wedmore 121, Clevedon 92: T Collingwood, P Moxey, D Nicholls 13-16; D Skelton, A Birch, R Newell 28-4; T Bullock, I Gallop, T Brown 14-21; D Barnett, J Runciman, K Burt 20-12; B Back, D Collins, I Faulkner 16-20; T Hamblin, S Fisher, C Panchaud 28-19.

A Mark Moor mixed team visited Wedmore for the first round of the Mark Moor Cup, which Wedmore won by just six shots. Best result to Wedmore went to Keith Burt and his team who had a 25-10 win.

Wedmore 114, Mark Moor 108: J Collingwood, B Disbrey, I Gallop, E Deverell 16-22; T Newell, L Hamblin, D Collins, K Burt 25-10; J Collins, T Counsell, M Trow, M Hordle 23-16; M Fisher, C Wheller, D Gallop, G Harvey 14-16; T Collingwood, M Barron, S Fisher, R Newell 15-21; T Hamblin, J Runciman, M Perry, R Barron 21-23.

In friendly matches, Wedmore men had a narrow 84-81 win over visitors Winscombe. Ron Barron and his team had the best win of the day 22-14.

At Congresbury, the men had a tough challenge winning just one rink, drawing one and losing two as they went down 66 to 75. Keith Burt and his team had the only win 22-19.

Yatton ladies came to Wedmore for a three-rink friendly match with the home side losing 31-42.

A mixed Wedmore team visited Somerton and after some hard fought rinks, Wedmore lost by just one shot 73-74. Mike Green and his team had the best result of the day with a 19-11 victory.

IN THE first Wessex League match of the season, Wessex Ladies suffered a narrow defeat by only two shots.

Wessex Ladies 53 (2), Mark Moor 55 (8) V Edwards, V Gardiner, B Jones, A Ward 13-18; P Turner, A Crawford, A Fewings, J Duffy 26-12; B Hayes, E Stott, P Dunn, P Taylor 14-25.

In the friendly local derby against Clarence, Wessex had a 13-shot victory with one drawn rink and two winning rinks, which more than covered the other two rinks.

Wessex Ladies 87, Clarence 74: P Hanson, J Allard, M Milford, C Peart 16-16; V Gardiner, L Hedderman, B Jones, J Duffy 24-9; I Hicks, T Langford, M Hawkins, A Fewings 18-12; D Welfare, E Stott, P Dunn, P Taylor 16-18; V Edwards, E Wade, N Peters, A Ward 13-19.

WINSCOMBE Ladies had lots of firsts during the week, but came second in both their matches.

Their first friendly match was the first time Winscombe had visited West Backwell. Sue Lowis had another first when she skipped her rink for the first time and was the only rink to come away with a win. It was a close game on all rinks, but Winscombe lost by eight shots.

In their first Wessex League match of the season, Winscombe were away to Clevedon Prom. They won on two rinks and gained four points, but lost overall by seven shots.

Winscombe Ladies 39, West Backwell 47 (friendly): L Dyer, T Darkin, L Whatling, A Ainsworth 10-17; J Rush, M Howell, W Weller, M Adams 14-17; I Miles, P Heal, S Caddy, S Lowis 15-13.

Winscombe Ladies 49, Clevedon Prom 56 (Wessex League): J Kimmins, C Bryant, M Adams, S Caddy 9-26; C Hopes, A Ainsworth, R Keane, W Weller 20-18; M Sprouting, J Rush, S Lowman, L Fredsdorff 20-12.

ASHCOMBE Ladies 51 (7), Clevedon Prom 46 (3) (North Somerset Triples League): M Tucker, N Counsell, S Weaden 15-15; L Paterson, J Hughes, A Goacher 16-18; M Main, J Wilkinson, J McInally 20-13. Friendly rink: A Cox, S Ford, B MacGregor 21-8.

Ashcombe Ladies 61, Victoria 49 (friendly): A Cox, M Williams, M Tasker, S Weaden 21-16; L Paterson, J Field, S Hopkins, J McInally 22-20; B Cullen, F McCarthy, M Tucker, J Hughes 18-13.

Ashcombe Ladies 54, Congresbury 33: J Field, A Bass, D Norville, A Goacher 24-15; L Owens, C Hedges, M Main, S Weaden 15-9; A Cox, S Hopkins, J Hughes, J McInally 15-9.

AS PART of Weston College’s sponsorship, Victoria Ladies entertained students from the college in what was termed a taster.

The game was played competitively and some students aided by players from Victoria managed to defeat some of Victoria’s established players. It is the intention to have further games against the college when time permits.

Fourteen members of Weston College Sports Academy attended this day. They all appeared to enjoy and look forward to further days. Ladies’ captain Sue Newman was delighted to welcome the students and to see the students fully participating and enjoying the game.

CLARENCE Ladies had an impressive away victory over Yatton in a friendly match.

They won two of the three rinks, with Janet Anning, Shirley Scoins, Shirley Searle and skip Veronica Jones picking up five shots on the last three ends to finish two ahead. Sheila Ellis’s rink were 10-shot winners.

Yatton 43, Clarence Ladies 48: M Woods, C Marshall, V Collicott, M Edlin 12-19; J Coles, J Mannion, A Harris, S Ellis 22-12; J Anning, S Scoins, S Searle, V Jones 14-12.

A heavy defeat on one rink proved costly for Clarence in their annual friendly match against green-sharers Wessex Ladies.

They lost by 13, despite having finished up on two of the five rinks and drawn another. Pam Hawkins’s four picked up three shots on the last two ends to win by two, while Val Collicott skipped her team to a six-shot victory. Margaret Noddings drew, having been two ahead with two ends to go.

Clarence Ladies 74, Wessex 87: J Colman, R Francombe, Pauline Dunn, P Burrough 9-24; S Ellis, V Jones, J Mannion, P Hawkins 18-16; S Scoins, S Searle, V Senior, V Collicott 19-13; J Anning, K Bradbury, A Harris, C Edlin 12-18; C Cromey, G Hookway, M Davison, M Noddings 16-16.