St Andrews Bowling Club had another brilliant weekend as their women stormed into the county two-fours final and the men edged a step closer to the knockout stages of the Wessex League.

The women gave a brilliant, all-round display on Saturday to beat the strong Clarrie Dunbar club in their two-fours semi-final.

Early on, both the home and away rinks were a total of 12-2 down. Jane Smith’s home four did not get their noses in front until after 15 of the 21 ends then, cheered on by a large crowd of supporters, emerged victors by four shots.

Away, Becky McMillan’s outstanding quartet showed their quality once again, recovering from a shaky start to take control and win by three. Their final opponents are not yet known, but on this form the St Andrews women will take some stopping.

The men beat Bristol by 15 shots in the Wessex League and the 13 points they gained mean that they are in with a great chance of reaching the knockout stages for the first time since they rejoined the league six years ago.

Lee Stocker’s home rink were the stars, winning by 22 shots. Away, Jack Angove came back from four down with five ends left to draw. Saints need to take only four points from their final league game against rivals North Wilts on Sunday to reach the play-offs.

Individually, Saints teams notched up national area semi-final victories over Victoria, Street (men’s over-60 pairs), Taunton Deane (women’s over-60 pairs) and North Petherton (women’s over-50 triples).

In a further boost for the club, the Bowls England Team of the Year was named as the Somerset women’s Amy Rose team, which included Becky McMillan, their national Champion of Champions runner-up.

Results, Somerset women’s two-fours semi-final, Clarrie Dunbar 31 St Andrews 38: Home: C Venn, M Millard, A Campbell, J Smith 19-15; away: J Forse, A Powell, S Sinclair, R McMillan 19-16,

Wessex League, St Andrews 95 (13 points) Bristol 80 (3): Home: M Fry, D Fairhurst, B Forse, D Johnston 24-22; T Wyatt, D Bailey, S Stocker, L Stocker 34-12; away: G Millard, M Ford, R Withers, P Villis 19-28; M Campbell, L Fisher, J Keay, J Angove 18-18.

National men’s over-60 pairs area semi-final: B Forse/P Villis (St Andrews) 20 J Murphy/R Probert (Victoria, Street) 11.

Women’s over-50 triples area semi-final: J Forse, S Sinclair, A Campbell (St Andrews) 27 L Ward, S Allsworth, J Andrews (North Petherton) 9.

Women’s over-60 pairs area semi-final: H Ambrose/L Williams (Taunton Deane) 8 J Forse/S Sinclair (St Andrews) 16.

County men’s singles semi-final: D Winmill (Taunton) 21 B Forse (St Andrews) 12.