Saints regain the Ron Taylor Cup

ST ANDREWS regained the Ron Taylor Cup, despite losing the second leg against Victoria.

Although St Andrews lost by 18 shots, this was not enough to overturn the 33 shots Saints won by in the first leg. However, two enjoyable games played in Ron’s memory, who over the years was a member of both clubs.

The ladies’ had a tough game against Clevedon in the Somerset County indoor Presidents Trophy, losing only by three shots at home and two away.

St Andrews men played their first double rink game against Donyatt. Tony Steer’s rink had a resounding win at home by 20 shots, while Barrie Forse’s rink away had a tight game up to the point where they picked up a six and went on to win by 10 shots.

In the Wessex League, Saints played Christie Miller, a Melksham club. The away rink of Don Bailey had a hard time losing by 18 shots, but Forse’s rink counteracted their score with a 23 shot win. Both home rinks of Tony Steer and Phil Villis had good wins to give Saints overall victory.

Out of three friendly games played, Saints managed two wins over Wedmore and Taunton Deane, losing only to Puriton.

St Andrews 64, Victoria 82 (Ron Taylor Cup): B Alden, D Stanton, R Venn 14-21; B Ennis, K Rodgers, T Thomas 18-13; T Hyde, R Dunstone, P Aldus 15-27; G Tofte, G Cooper, B Roberts 17-21.

St Andrews Ladies 32, Clevedon 37 (SCLI Presidents Cup): C Riley, M Wride, J Ware, M Favis 17-20; P Uglow, J Smith, J Pitman, A Campbell 15-17.

St Andrews 53, Donyatt 23 (double rink) M Campbell, P Aldus, P Villis, A Steer 31-11; R Venn, W Harrison, D Bailey, B Forse 22-12.

St Andrews 99, Christie Miller 61 (Wessex League): A Hyde, G Millard, P Aldus, A Steer 23-11; J Wilkes, B Roberts, T Thomas, P Villis 28-7; M Campbell, B Reeves, R Venn, D Bailey 15-33; K Uglow, D Favis, R Noddings, B Forse 33-10.

St Andrews 53, Taunton Deane 43: C Robinson, I Tofte, J Smith, D Henderson 12-17; J Forse, R Brereton, M Simpson, E Hooper 25-13; P Smart, G Tofte, R Smith, G Cooper 16-13.

St Andrews 36, Wedmore 27: M Simpson, A Greenwood, B Ennis, J Pitman 22-13; C Riley, A Cooper, I Hicks, D Henderson 14-14.

St Andrews 36, Puriton. 45: C Riley, A Cooper, B Ennis, E Hooper 18-17; R Smith, B Alden, D Henderson, I Hicks 18-28.

WOODSPRING Indoor Bowls Club held a day-long match recently, with four teams of ladies challenging four teams of men for the Brenda Dunston Rosebowl.

The result was a close win by only two for the men (84-82) after a nail-biting finish.

The Rosebowl, donated in memory of president Ray Dunston’s late wife, is held by men’s captain Martyn Brummell, accompanied by ladies’ president Arlene Pilgrim.

DAVID Stott is on course for a clean sweep of titles in the Clarence Indoor Bowling Club championships.

The 2009 Clarence men’s club champion is in the semi-finals of the singles, pairs and triples, having won two of the competitions last year.

He and Richard Crawford, the defending champions, will meet either Roger and Pauline Burrough or Marlene Woods/Veronica Jones in the pair’s semis. Already through to the final are the father-and-daughter combination of Andy, last year’s singles champion, and Rebecca McMillan, who beat the strong team of Elizabeth Williams and Joan Davis by three shots in the other semi.

In the triples, Stott and Crawford are partnered by Mick Edlin, last year’s winning combination. Their semi-final opponents will be the McMillan family, Rebecca, Marie and Andy.

Martin Adams stands between Stott and a place in the singles final, with Jim Keay through to the semis in the other half of the draw. He will play either Mick Edlin or first-year bowler Allan Cord.

In the Clarence leagues, Larches, who were unbeaten until Christmas in the Tuesday Afternoon competition, have lost four games in a row, but are still eight points clear.

Clarence mixed team lost narrowly away in the fifth of their six-match series against Bridgwater, who included only one lady.

Bridgwater 31, Clarence 27: Marlene Woods, Jan Bishop, George Cooper, Gerald Barlow 12-18; Lucy Oldham, Alan Bishop, Veronica Jones, Andy McMillan 15-13.

ISLE of Wedmore men have continued to prosper in the SCIBA League, winning the match against North Petherton 101-48 and thus remaining in second place in the division.

Rink scores: R Bull, T Brown, R Thurkettle, R Hughes 20-11; V Matthews, J Harris, D Nuchills, S Eastment 39-10; R Newell, K Pettit, R Barron, E Payne 27-9; T Keates, B Back, I Gallop, C Moss 15-18.

The men’s county double rink competition against a strong Yeovil team produced a nail-biting finish. After a close match, Wedmore were three shots up overall after 20 ends, but lost three shots in the last end to give a tied result.

Unfortunately for Wedmore, Yeovil won the extra deciding end but it was nevertheless a very creditable performance against one of the top indoor clubs in the county.

Rink scores: R Newell, R Thurkettle, R Barron, E Payne 19-17; I Gallop, C Moss, S Eastment, R Hughes 14-16.

The ladies’ county double rink competition was played against Donyatt. Although Wedmore had a good lead part way through the game, Donyatt gradually recovered to gain a narrow victory by three shots.

Rink scores: M Barron, M Trow, M Hordle, S Wederell 23-24; T Newell, S Moss, J Masters, M Ronald 18-20.

Wedmore played a mixed friendly against St Andrews, losing by 27-36, but had more success against Chew Stoke, winning by 53-28. A ladies friendly against Victoria was won by 64-15.