Victoria Bowls Club has endured a mixed start in the first half of the indoor season.

VICTORIA’S indoor season is going through peaks and troughs in the first half of the season.

They were comprehensively beaten by Isle of Wedmore in the Denny Cup, losing all four rinks and also losing narrowly to Woodspring in the Weston Mixed League, but there was the consolation of gaining four points with rinks skipped by Graham Rain and Mildred Chudley achieving excellent wins.

In the EIBA Over-60s Double Rink competition, Victoria beat Donyatt by six shots following a fine rink win by John Mingoe-West, Mike Taylor, Derek Jones and skip Mike Stocker.

Victoria 48, Isle of Wedmore 99 (Denny Cup): M Willetts, B Pocock, G Rain, D Sealey 5-34; R Bromet, R Rockett, M Taylor, D Hurst 19-23; L Kelly, P Wyatt, C Heal, M Cooper 10-17; D Beard, W Nicholls, D Jones, M Stocker 14-25.

Victoria 35, Donyatt 29 (EIBA Over 60s Double Rink): B Pocock, R Rockett, C Heal, M Stocker 16-16; J Mingo-West, M Taylor, D Jones, M Cooper 19-13.

Victoria 53 (4)-60 (12) Woodspring (Weston Mixed League): B Williams, K Wilson, J Langridge, G Rain 23-7; H Frye, W Nicholls, G Richards, M Chudley 14-9; L Kelly, R Bailey, E Newport, L Stocker 7-23; P Coumis, R Bromet, R Cleeves, M Campbell 9-21.

ST ANDREWS men, still smarting from their opening league match defeat at the hands of Isle of Wedmore, were handed an early opportunity to take revenge in the Denny Cup.

This they achieved in some style when Malcolm Campbell, George Webber, Daryl Johnston and Barrie Forse secured a hot shot (all eight shots in a single end) on their way to an impressive 30-shot margin.

St Andrews 101, Isle of Wedmore 68: A Hyde, N Sell, K Curtis, P Villis 18-13; G Millard, D Favis, G Guest, D Bailey 25-15; M Campbell, G Webber, D Johnston, B Forse 41-11; K Uglow, J Keay, A Steer, S Davies 17-29

Hot shots are rare, so it was quite remarkable that, on the previous day, Mo Millard, Jackie Pitman and Ann Campbell recorded a similar feat during a national ladies triples match at Thirlmere Road.

Imogen Cracknell and Steve Davies duly progressed to the area semi-final of the national mixed pairs where they will retain home advantage. That benefit will be shared by their opponents, however, as Rebecca McMillan and Andy Owens overcame the challenge of Carolina Venn and Barrie Forse to ensure St Andrews’ representation in the area final.

Isle of Wedmore were the visitors in a mixed friendly which Saints duly won. Skip, Sue Caddy, was full of praise for all her rink, but picked out Paul Smart, at lead, as worthy of special mention.

St Andrews 41, Isle of Wedmore 25: P Smart, A Greenwood, L Yeates, S Caddy 23-12; I Cracknell, J Rush, C Riley, B Ennis 18-15.

IN THE second round of the Yetton Trophy, Wedmore Ladies met Minehead, home and away, but were knocked out after winning only one rink.

Chris Mercer’s side did well from the off and were 10 shots ahead after 16 ends and finished six shots ahead. Marie Trow’s four were in touch with leaders Minehead for most of the game, but went down by just three shots.

Both away teams, led by Julie Masters and Maureen Hordle, struggled and lost heavily.

Wedmore 66, Minehead 88: B Clark, P Beard, J Knott, C Mercer 23-17; J Collins, A Corbett, J Wheller, M Trow 19-22; A Birch, C Hamblin, T Newell, J Masters 16-24; B Carson, A Wilkinson, V Burt, M Hordle 8-25.

In a mixed friendly away to St Andrews, Wedmore lost on both rinks. Skippers Mike Green and Brian Aston both led their squads to match the opposition’s scores in the second half, but by that time were too far behind to draw level, resulting in a severe overall loss.