Victoria are still in with a chance of silverware this year after reaching the final of the Wedmore Plate.

THERE is still hope for silverware at Victoria following victory over Wyrall Park in the semi-final of the Wedmore Plate.

The 15 shot win by the rink of John Newman, Dave Sealey, Ken Curtis and skip Mike Stocker swung the game in favour of Victoria.

In the County League, the C team impressed with an away win over Ashcombe C gaining 10 points. Top rink was Terry Gilbert, Michael Willetts, John Mingo-West and Eric Sage. This win keeps the team in a healthy top half position in the table.

The A team however, suffered another defeat which leave them in a three-way battle at the foot of the table. The only two points gained against Portishead RBL was achieved by rink of Pete Lunn, Dave Sealey, Paul Leadbeater and skip Mike Stocker.

The B team were also only able to collect two points against Yatton B thanks to the rink of Darren Beard, George Frost, Tony Uccellini and Mike Taylor.

The B team occupy a safe position in the middle of the table, but are looking for a strong finish to the season.

Victoria D team travelled to play Nailsea B, currently second in the table and showed their overall strength winning all three rinks convincingly.

Victoria may not have taken any points back home, but the rink skipped by John Downing can boast of a combined age of over 340 years.

Victoria Vikings won another game beating Mark Moor by eight shots and gaining another 14 points. Captain Cliff Chudley is now seeing his new team finish the season on a high note and is able to record a better recent success of results over the Saxons.

In the first leg of the Ron Taylor Cup played at St Andrews, Victoria secured an 18 shot advantage to take back home. Top rink with an 11 shot win was Stuart Evans, supported by Richard Austin, Graham Hodge and Tony Bray.

Worcester Brotherwood visited for a friendly and convincingly won by 29 shots with just the one rink win for Victoria with Darren Beard, Stan Thynne, John Newman and skip Colin Gazzard.

There was another defeat for the friendly team away to Winscombe with again just a single rink win by Pete Wyatt, Graham Richards, Terry Gatehouse and Mike Taylor.

Victoria 78, Wyrral Park 70 (Wedmore Plate): P Lunn, T Uccellini, M Taylor, M Cooper 14-23; M Campbell, H Whyte, K Harvey, W Harrison 17-20; J Newman, D Sealey, K Curtis, M Stocker 29-14; T Gatehouse, T Bray, M Manning, D Hurst 18-13.

Victoria A 57, Portishead RBL 65 (Somerset County League): M Campbell, P Fisher, K Harvey, D Hurst 19-21; H Whyte, K Curtis, T Bray, C Gazzard 18-30; P Lunn, D Sealey, P Leadbeater, M Stocker 20-14.

Victoria B 54, Yatton B 57: G Richards, J Smart, J Howell, D Jones 17-21; J Dyet, T Gatehouse, A Barnes, M Manning 11-21; D Beard, G Frost, T Uccellini, M Taylor 26-15.

Victoria C 63, Ashcombe C 56: P Wyatt, A Shattock, R Austin, G Hodge 18-28; T Gilbert, M Willetts, J Mingo-West, E Sage 21-11; B Nicholls, A Waygood, B Saward, D Avery 24-17.

Victoria D 40, Nailsea B 83: S Thynne, E Longworth, T Farmer, J Downing 11-32: M Milliner, R Sparkes, D Roberts 13-23: T Webb, R Jacobs, F Aldridge, P Newport 16-28.

Victoria Vikings 112, Mark Moor 104 (Over-60s League): B Nicholls, D Roberts, J Griffiths 19-16; T Gilbert, C York, D Avery 17-19; R Jacobs, C Chudley, G Frost 13-20; S Thynne, G Thorne, D Jones 21-15; J Turton, P Newport, J Smart 15-18; B Johnson, R Sparkes, E Sage 27-16.

Victoria 125, St Andrews 107 (Ron Taylor Cup): P Wyatt, E Sage, P Leadbeater, M Manning 28-18; G Richards, M Milliner, R Rockett, D Hurst 13-22; R Austin, G Hodge, T Bray, S Evans 27-16; B Nicholls, M Willetts, A Barnes, K Harvey 17-20; G Jones, R Sleep, J Newman, M Stocker 23-13; D Beard, A Shattock, P Fisher, D Jones 17-18.

Victoria 85, Worcester Brotherhood 114 (friendly): R Austin, C Chudley, J Griffiths, M Manning 16-17; D Beard, S Thynne, J Newman, C Gazzard 25-20; P Wyatt, M Willetts, A Barnes, E Sage 15-29; J Mingo-West, M Milliner, T Gatehouse, M Stocker 19-22; I Linham, B Nicholls, R Sleep, M Taylor 10-26.

Victoria 93, Winscombe 116 (friendly): P Wyatt, G Richards, T Gatehouse, M Taylor 22-10; D Beard, E Sage, M Campbell, D Hurst 21-15; H Whyte, M Willetts, A Barnes, K Harvey 7-22; B Nicholls, B Saward, J Newman, D Jones 12-18; M Milliner, L Kelly, M Manning, J Griffiths 8-28; J Mingo-West, R Sleep, R Rockett, G Frost 23-23.

CLARENCE B made it four victories in a row when they won by 10 shots away to Clevedon Prom B in the Somerset County League.

They looked set for a fourth successive 12-point haul until Gerry Barlow’s rink dropped eight shots on the last two ends to lose by three. The winning Clarence rinks were skipped by Martyn Adams and Jim Keay.

Clevedon Prom B 58 (2), Clarence B 68 (10): T Ward, J Edwards, M Skyrme, G Barlow 17-20; A Bishop, B Duffy, J Burgess, M Adams 25-19; L Lakey, B Cornwall, D Jackman, J Keay 26-19.

In their away match against Isle of Wedmore A, Clarence A went down to their first defeat of the season. This was despite a 20-shot victory for captain Roger Burrough’s rink, who had a six on the second end. The other two Clarence rinks went down heavily.

Isle of Wedmore A 68 (10), Clarence A 52 (2): B Rossiter, M Edlin, G Cooper, P Tubb 10-27; T Hooper, T Pritchard, D Towie, R Burrough 34-14; R Flicker, T Mannion, R Crawford, D Stott 8-27.

A heavy defeat on one rink cost Clarence Blues the match at home to Over-60s League leaders Ashcombe Crusaders.

The Blues won four of the six rinks and lost another by just three, but an 18-shot deficit on the sixth meant that they went down by one. The winning skips were Paul Tubb, Gerald Barlow, Pete Palmer and Dave Thomson.

Captain Roger Burrough’s rink picked up 12 shots on two ends, one a seven, but just failed to recover what had been a 13-shot deficit.

Clarence Blues 94 (8), Ashcombe Crusaders 95 (12): R Flicker, B Rossiter, R Crawford 5-23; T Hooper, B Ballinger, P Tubb 16-15; A Bishop, J Keay, R Burrough 17-20; M Edlin, T Mannion, G Barlow 17-13; J Rogers, T Ward, P Palmer 23-12; L Lakey, J Burgess, D Thomson 16-12.

Clarence Golds finished up on only two rinks as they lost by 27 shots away to Portishead RBL in Division 2 of the Over-60s League. Mike Skyrme and captain-for-the-day Dick Jackman were the winning skips.

Portishead RBL 113 (16), Clarence Golds 86 (4): J Larvin, B Cornwall, M Skyrme 17-13; J Hawkins, M Scoins, D Jackman 17-15; J Hicks, K Marshall, B Duffy 13-16; B Difford, B Hanks, G Cooper 11-26; John Hayes, G Phillips, M Phillips 16-18; C Tippett, M Peters, J Edwards 12-25.

Former England international David Cutler was full of praise for the Clarence green after his Plymouth Sir Francis Drake club won by 19 shots in a mixed friendly.

Cutler, the youngest player to win a national title, in 1972 when he was 17, was in excellent form and said afterwards that he wished he could play on a green as good as Clarence’s in every away game.

The home team’s most successful rink comprised Trevor Ward, Irene Hicks, Tony Mannion and skip Paul Tubb, who won by 10 shots. Clarence finished up on two other rinks, skipped by Gerald Barlow and David Stott, but lost heavily on the remaining two, one of them against Cutler.

Clarence 87, Plymouth Sir Francis Drake 103: T Hooper, Ann Ward, D Jackman, G Barlow 19-17; J Keay, B Cornwall, J Hicks, Pam Hawkins 8-24; B Rossiter, A Bishop, Jan Bishop, D Stott 21-16; Jo Mannion, T Comfort, G Cooper, R Burrough 10-27; T Ward, Irene Hicks, T Mannion, P Tubb 29-19.

A BUSY week for Banwell Bowling Club started with a win in a friendly game at Norwest and finished with a win at home against a touring side from Bridport.

In between was the second leg of the annual Parrot Shield and league games for the A and B teams.

In the annual Parrot Shield second leg against Winscombe, Banwell came out victorious, but it was not enough to be outright winners and Winscombe retained the shield for another year.

Winscombe 98, Banwell 102: R Smith, J Amos, T Byrnes, P Owen 23-10; T Hyde, J Keith, J Laurent, J Davies 23-15; M Laycock, D Walker, M House, C Wilson 17-25; H Woodards, J Rickerty, H Guckian, B Taylor 26-22; T Burnett, F Lewis, G Millard, K Burgess 13-26.

Banwell A had a tricky away fixture against Taunton A in the Somerset County League Premier One, but with the rink skipped by president Barry Taylor keeping hold of a commanding lead, the other rinks kept it tight and Banwell won the match.

Taunton 50 (3), Banwell 60 (9): R Smith, G Millard, H Guckian, B Taylor 24-12; T Garfield, L Smith, C Wilson, P Owen 20-20; T Hyde, H Woodards, K Burgess, J Davies 16-18.

Bridport tourists came to Banwell on their way back home after a short break in Hereford. Banwell came out on top by five shots with the rink of Martina and Trevor Garfield, Jan and John Davies putting in the best performance.

ST ANDREWS had another successful week with only one defeat out of five games.

The loss came at home to local neighbours Victoria in the inter-club Ron Taylor Cup competition. Saints leave themselves with the task of winning well in the return leg, which they have done a number of times before.

The most notable victory came in the Wedmore Plate semi-final match against Williton, which was played at Vivary Park, Taunton. A special mention should be given to Tony Steer’s rink, who made sure of the win by defeating their rink opponents 33-16.

St Andrews 107, Victoria 125 (Ron Taylor Cup): M Simpson, C Reeves, E Day, J Warren 13-23; P Smart, J Steer, M Goddard, D Favis 16-27; M Blight, F Mudge, R Venn, T Thomas 18-28; C Robinson, R Brereton, B Green, S Davies 20-17; A Cooper, R Dunstone, J Ling, A Steer 22-13; P O’Connor, T Allen, G Tofte, B Forse 18-17.

St Andrews Spartans 134, Ashcombe Knights 59(Over-60s Triples): K Parker, B May, G Guest 27-11; B Rogers, M Goddard, T Thomas 21-11; R Smith, A Horsburgh, D Favis 25-4; K Uglow, G Wride, B Forse 25-5; G Sims, J Ling, R Venn 16-16; M Simpson, M Berry, A Steer 20-12.

St Andrews 93, Williton 56 (Wedmore Plate): M Goddard, R Venn, P Villis, G Guest 17-12; R Smith, G Aldridge, D Favis, D Bailey 16-19; G Tofte, A McMillan, S Davies, B Forse 27-9; K Uglow, T Thomas, P Aldus, A Steer 33-16.

St Andrews B 71, Congresbury B 68 (County League): R Smith, M Blight, E Day, T Thomas 29-21; M Simpson, A Horsburgh, B Reeves, B May 15-26; M Goddard, T Allen, A Ware, G Wride 27-21.

St Andrews 118, Aberaeron Sports Club 99 (tourists): A Cooper, R Dunstone, Mrs M Wride, P Aldus 22-12; G Berry, Mrs A Greenwood, A MacNab, P Villis 18-18; Mrs E Reeves, P Pattenden, G Burgess, R Venn 22-22; Mrs W Allen, C Robinson, J Steer, A Steer 17-23; P Smart, Miss K Dobney, Mrs B Goddard, R McLeod 18-13; Mrs C Venn, F Mudge, Mrs E Blight, S Davies 21-11.

WEDMORE men were in action at home against Prattens in the Mid Somerset League and won by the narrow margin of just five shots.

In a close match, Roger Hughes’ team ensured victory with a 31-14 shot win. Wedmore 78, Prattens 73: R Bull, K Phillimore, T Brown, C Moss 15-19; D Trow, B Andrews, R Thurkettle, R Barron 18-14; V Matthews, B Freeman, I Faulkner, K Burt 14-26; T Counsell, C Panchaud, R Newell, R Hughes 31-14.

Both the A and B teams were in action at home for men’s county league matches. The A team did well, winning two rinks out of three against Clarence A, and with big differentials on all rinks, Ron Barron and his team had the best win with a 27-8 score. Wedmore 68, Clarence 52: D Trow, S Newdick, R Thurkettle, R Hughes 27-10; T Brown, K Phillimore, G Annuik, E Payne 14-34; R Newell, K Pettit, D Nicholls, R Barron 27-8.

The men’s B team fared less well, drawing one rink and losing two against Bristol C.

Wedmore B 46, Bristol C 64: T Hamblin, M Green, B Freeman, D Stansfield 14-21; P Bean, R Treloar, S Fisher, C Moss 14-25; V Matthews, J Harvey, C Panchaud, I Faulkner 18-18.

WINSCOMBE retained the Parrot Shield for a third successful time with victory over Banwell in this two-leg annual event.

It was an exciting second leg match. After 10 ends Winscombe led by 23 shots, but Banwell came back strongly in the second half to win on the night by four shots. However, Winscombe took an 11 shot lead into their home leg and won overall by seven shots and retained the trophy.

In other matches, Winscombe moved to six straight wins in a row this season against Victoria. This latest victory came in their friendly match at Winscombe, where the home team won by 23 shots.

A mixed match against Prattens resulted in a heavy defeat for the home side. At Yatton in the Clevedon and District Evening League, Winscombe only fielded three players on one rink and lost 25 per cent of their score. Despite this, they won the rink and the match gaining seven points to Yatton’s two.

In the Somerset County games, the A team lost by four shots at home to Congresbury and the B team won by four shots in their match at Yatton.

Winscombe 109, Banwell 102 (Parrot Shield): N Hansford, L Baldwin, G Neville, A Watts 10-23: R Lowman, J Smith, R Wootten, T Ellis 15-23; G Lloyd, M Hunter, W Ainsworth, A Dudley 25-17; K Whatling, L Collier, R Feltham, M Adams 22-26; M Dorrington, G Hill, R Lacy, S Eastment 26-13.

Winscombe A 57 (2), Congresbury A 61 (10) (County League): R Lowman, M Hunter, R Wootten, T Ellis 19-20; K Whatling, L Collier, R Feltham, M Adams 13-23; W Ainsworth, R Lacy, A Dudley, S Eastment 25-18.

Winscombe 116, Victoria 93 (friendly): N Hansford, C Bailey, W Ainsworth, M Adams 23-23; R Knight, J Smith, R Wootten, T Ellis 18-12; M Dorrington, J Vincent, R Lowman, S Eastment 22-7; A Brand, D Owen, J Lukins, R Lacy 10-22; P Hopes, P Fredersdorff, L Collier, A Dudley 15- 21; B Paul, M Nash, K Whatling, G Neville 28-8.

Winscombe 100.5, Yatton 98 (C&D League): N Hansford, D Owen, L Baldwin, M Adams 25-20; G Coombe, S Easterby, M Dorrington, S Eastment 21-16; M Nash, J Lukins, A Watts 22 (16.5)-14; R Knight, G Hill, L Collier, R Feltham 26-27; B Paul, R Weller, R Kibble, R Lacy 12-21.

Winscombe 63, Prattens 94 (mixed friendly): A Brand, A Hart, M Smith, K Whatling 17-20; L Coombe, L Parfitt, P John, J Smith 17-23; J Vincent, R Hart, S Caddy, J Kimmins 14-22; S Vincent, R Weller, W Weller, G Coombe 15-29.

Winscombe won the Banwell charity fun day tournament on a glorious sunny day. Pictured are winning team - Tony Dudley, Ronnie Wootten, Tony Watts and Mike Nash receiving the shield from Banwell captain Chris Wilson, who skipped the runners-up.

YATTON 98, Winscombe 101 (Clevedon and District Evening League): R Mills, N Robinson, P Osborne, D Sweet 16-21, L Howe, R Adams, D Bessant, W Casey 27-26; E Butt, S Thorne, R Bish, C Parsons 14-22; M Musgrove, J Knight, P Tetreault, T Storm 21-12; S Pascoe, P Lomas, N Edmonds, M Withyman 20-25.

Yatton A 48, Winscombe B 52 (Somerset County League): D Goddard, W Cole, P Osborne, D Sweet 15-19; B Foster, J Knight, N Edmonds, G Smith 16-17; L Howe, T Storm, M Withyman, W Casey 17-16.

Yatton B 57, Victoria B 54: M Musgrove, S Pascoe, N Robinson, T Robinson 21-11; J Parker, R Mills, B Hardwick, C Parsons 21-17; A George, H Williams, D Blundell, R Bish 15-26.

CONGRESBURY Ladies 44, Wrington 51 (Mendip League): D Davis, S Wright, V Harding 17-14; E Archer, R Horton, B Huggett 10-25; C Wilcock, J Blagden, C Andrews 17-12.

Congresbury Ladies 69, Nailsea 54 (Mendip League): C Lewis, A Jones, K Herbison 28-21; H Tranmer, R Horton, V Harding 10-20; W Manning, A Purnell, B Huggett 31-13.

Congresbury 100, Long Ashton 73 (Co-operative Funeralcare Evening League): R Baker, C Blagden, G Stenner, B Herbison 34-14; S Pook, R Archer, M Wear, R Kirkham 30-16; D Manning, R Stewart, J Stone, L Beck 21-16; R King, P Reay, C Shipway, R Becker 15-27.

Congresbury 86, Long Ashton 121 (Co-operative Funeralcare Over-60s League): M Kimmings, R Joseph, D Manning 22-20; R Jones, D Folds, J Stone 11-21; P Dawes, D Gosling, D Rivers 16-16; G Andrews, M Hopkins, R Archer 15-18; A Edwards, C Blagden, G Stenner 6-30; J Churchward, S Pook, T Yearsley 16-16.

Congresbury 78, Nailsea 120 (Co-operative Funeralcare Evening League): D Manning, C Blagden, M Huggett, M Wear 23-30; R King, D Byett, C Shipway, R Becker 9-26; R Baker, D Gosling, R Stewart, B Herbison 13-17; S Pook, I Morton, G Stenner, R Kirkham 16-24; P Reay, R Archer, D Rivers, J Stone 17-23.

Congresbury 2.5, Ashcombe1.5 (Four Dimensions).

ASHCOMBE Ladies 63 (8), Clevedon 56 (2) (Wessex League): M Main, D Norville, M Tucker, A Goacher 21-14; N Counsell, S Hadley, B MacGregor, J McInally 17-27; A Cox, B Groves, M Tasker, S Ford 25-15.

Ashcombe Ladies 36, St Andrews 51 (friendly, reduced to 18 ends): D Little, C Hedges, J .Beat, S Hopkins 14-13; J Field, M Sell, B Cullen, M Williams 10-20; L Owens, V Webber, N Counsell, B MacGregor 12-18.

VICTORIA ladies enjoyed mixed results as they lost one league match by four and won another match by three shots.

They were both close encounters as Victoria put new bowlers into the league matches to give them experience.

Victoria Ladies 47 (3), Nailsea 51 (7) (Mendip League): C Willetts, E Newport, A Holland 14-20; A Palmer, R Cleeves, M Chudley 20-18; C Sage, S Newman, S Cooper 13-13.

Victoria Ladies 52 (7), Congresbury 49 (3) (Weston & District Triples League): C Sage, R Cleeves, S Cooper 24-11; S Milliner, S Newman, M Chudley 10-20; D Owen, E Newport, S Harrison 18-18.

WINSCOMBE ladies won at Isle Wedmore in the Wessex League, despite being one player short on one rink and conceding a 25 per cent penalty and are now top of the league.

In the North Somerset League match at home to Clevedon, Winscombe won on one rink and missed out on another by just one shot, but lost overall by 10 shots.

Winscombe 39, Isle of Wedmore 37 (Wessex League): J Kimmins, M Smith, E Watts 12.75 (17)-13: C Hopes, L Dyer, L Whatling, S Lowman 13-14; M Sprouting, P Heal, S Nash, L Fredersdorff 14-10.

Winscombe 39, Clevedon 49 (NST League); T Miles, S Lowman, M Adams 14-12; J Kimmins, E Watts, A Ainsworth 9-20; C Hopes, L Whatling, S Caddy 16-17.

APART from helping their male counterparts win the friendly fixture against Aberaeron Sports Club, St Andrews Ladies won both of their other fixtures.

With close defeats on one rink in both games, the ladies made sure of the victories by winning well on the other rinks.

The ladies held their Dot Cross pairs tournament on Sunday and some close games were played over three rounds. Congratulations to the eventual winners, Carolina Venn and Jane Smith, who defeated Judy Forse and Monica Pattenden in the final.

St Andrews Ladies 53, Portishead 37: K Dobney, A Greenwood, M Pattenden 14-15; J Forse, D Johnston, M Favis 16-10; P Uglow, M Frost, A Campbell 23-12.

St Andrews Ladies 51, Ashcombe Park 36: W Allen, A Greenwood, B Goddard, M Favis 18-12; J Forse, S Sinclair, E Blight, J Ware 13-14; M Wride, K Dobney, S Priory, M Pattenden 20-10.

WESSEX ladies had a more successful week by winning both matches played.

Wessex Ladies 65, Eastover Bridgwater 53: V Edwards, J Allard, P Hanson, J Davis 23-20; P Tillson, S Davies, M McMillan, P Taylor 27-13; P Turner, E Stott, P Dunn, E Deane 15-20.

Wessex 58 (8), Wrington 44 (2) (Mendip League): S Bishop, M Davis, A Powell 21-12; A Ward, B Jones, J Davis 26-13; E Stott, I Hicks, J Binding 11-19.

THE Isle of Wedmore ladies sent two teams to Watchet to play in the open triples competition and won the competition outright.

In one of their busiest weeks of the season, the ladies played Watchet in the fourth round of the Southey Cup. On the singles rink Ann Hughes won 21-8, M Trow and E Deverill lost 17-25 in the pairs. In the triples, J Wheller, C Pettit and G Harvey lost 11-20 and in the rink match T Newell, L Hamblin, P Beard and M Hordle lost 15-23. The ladies had a good win in their Wessex Ladies’ League match away against Clarence Park. Best scoring rink was led my Maureen Hordle who won 32-9.

Wedmore Ladies 68, Clarence 45: T Newell, L Hamblin, P Beard, G Harvey 20-17; J Wheller, C Pettit, S Moss, S Wederell 16-19; B Clark, J Hunt, M Trow, M Hordle 32-9.

Winscombe arrived for a Wessex Ladies’ League match and in hot conditions and the match was played over 15 ends. The score was complicated as Winscombe were one player short, but they won overall 39.75-37.

Wedmore Ladies 37, Winscombe 39.75: T Newell, M Barron, L Hamblin, E Deverill 10-14; B Disbrey, C Pettit, M Perry, J Masters 14-13; M Green, R Aston, M Trow, M Hordle 13-12.75.

The final Wessex Ladies’ League match of the week saw Wedmore host Mark Moor and won two out of three rinks.

Wedmore Ladies 58, Mark Moor 48: B Disbrey, M Fisher, J Hunt, M Hordle 27-12; T Newell, M Barron, L Hamblin, J Masters 10-25; B Clark, M Green, M Trow, S Moss 26-11.

Away against Clevedon in a friendly match, each side won two rinks with Wedmore losing overall by just two shots (63-65).

Home against West Backwell, the ladies won all three rinks, running out winners by 68-39. Maureen Hordle’s team won by 27-8.