St Andrews beat previous leaders Bridgwater to go top of the Somerset County League.

ST ANDREWS went top of Division 2 of the Somerset County League after winning on all four rinks against previous leaders Bridgwater.

Although level on points, the Saints have two games in hand, and also a better shot difference.

St Andrews 96, Bridgwater 50 – home: R Smith, K Curtis, D Favis, P Villis 22-10; T Hyde, W Ainsworth, G Wride, A Owens 29-12. Away: R Venn, A McMillan, G Webber, B Forse 20-13; G Millard, G Tofte, S Davies, A Steer 25-15.

There was disappointment for Andrew Owens in his national area mixed pairs final, with partner Rebecca McMillan, as they just went down to Clarrie Dunbar’s Andy Colebrooke and Katy Smith.

Also, in the singles area final, he lost in another close encounter, against Watchet’s Steve Hooper.

There was better news in the men’s pairs area final, when Andrew and team-mate Barrie Forse beat Simon Barnard and James Amery from Taunton Deane by just one shot 24-23. They now go to Melton Mobray in April for the all-England finals.

Andrew, Barrie along with Ken Uglow, also have one more chance when they contest the area final of the national triples at the end of month.

BOTTOM team Clarence shocked leaders St Andrews in the Weston Mixed League, beating them by two shots and claiming 14 points.

Clarence won on three of the four rinks. Away, David Stott skipped his team to victory by three shots, while Pete Palmer, making his season’s league debut, inspired his four to finish six ahead, having been 6-1 down.

However, the home rink went down heavily by 18 to a strong visiting team. This left Gerald Barlow’s home rink with a nine-shot overall deficit to overcome.

Things did not start well as, due to a mix-up, Barlow had only three players against what looked a formidable St Andrews’ line-up. But, after some phone calls, Tony Hooper stepped into the breach and played a full part in a tremendous victory, 21-10, including a decisive five on the 12th of the 16 ends.

Clarence 54, St Andrews 52 – away: Irene Hicks, Rita Hinde, Jim Keay, David Stott 12-9; Pam Fowler, Tony Comfort, Tony Mannion, Pete Palmer 14-8. Home: Lucy Oldham, Alan Kermack, Ivan Phipps, Veronica Jones 7-25; Tony Hooper, Elaine Stott, Alan Bishop, Gerald Barlow 21-10.

Clarence Park Bowling Association, the umbrella body for the three clubs based at the park, holds its AGM on Saturday at the clubhouse (10am).

VICTORIA’S recent run of good form ended with a defeat against Bristol in the Somerset County League.

Despite losing on three rinks, Derek Hurst skipped his rink of Graham Richards, Mike Milliner and Dave Williams to a single shot victory securing two points.

Victoria ladies travelled to Isle of Wedmore for a two-rink friendly with Ellen Newport skipping her rink of Sue Milliner, Carol Stevens and Rita Bailey to an excellent seven-shot victory, but the margin of victory was not enough to prevent Victoria from being defeated by a single shot.

Wedmore Ladies 23, Victoria Ladies 22: L Richards, C Willetts, S Newman, M Hillman 6-14; S Milliner, C Stevens, R Bailey, E Newport 16-9.

Bristol 87 (14), Victoria 69 (2) – away: P Wyatt, P Newport, N Sell, B Stock 13-17; H Whyte, M Willetts, P Fisher, M Manning 16-30. Home: W Nicholls, D Beard, J Newman, M Stocker 18-19; G Richards, M Milliner, D. Williams, D, Hurst 22-21.

WEDMORE men had a fine home and away victory over Woodspring in the County League, winning by three rinks to one and by 51 shots overall.

At home, Eddie Payne’s team got off to a cracking start, holding a 21-shot lead after 11 ends and while Woodspring clawed back some points in the later stages, it was still a 22-shot win to give Wedmore a strong foundation.

Steve Eastment’s side had a much tighter tussle, keeping their nose in front for most of the game but losing the lead on the 19th end. A rebound of four shots on the last two ends delivered a three-point win.

Ron Barron led his men to a 10-point lead by halfway and, winning 15 ends, pushed the advantage to 20 shots at the end for an outstanding away result. Dave Nicholls’ group found themselves in a close contest when the lead changed hands six times, but they were edged out by three points.

Wedmore 97, Woodspring 46: B Back, J Harris, D Stansfield, E Payne 31-9; D Collins, A Birch, K Pettit, S Eastment 18-15; J Runciman, S Newdick, C Moss, R Barron 32-12; V Mathews, C Panchaud, T Brown, D Nicholls 16-19.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the women of these two clubs were engaged in a friendly at Wedmore, which the home side won by two rinks to nil and by 58 shots to 19.

Maureen Hordle’s team pulled away from the fourth end and never looked back, taking 15 ends to win 32-10. Sandra Moss’s group did well, leading from the beginning to win 26-9.