Woodspring men beat the ladies by just one shot

Woodspring were hosts to the Somerset Patrons, but this year the game was slightly different as some of the lady members were in the squad.

The match was played over two sessions, two rinks in the morning, two in the afternoon with a break for lunch. Raffle prices were donated by Woodspring, with the proceeds going to the Patrons’ charity. Although Woodspring put up a good fight, the Patrons won 76-31.

The ladies of Woodspring played a friendly against Wedmore away, with both teams taking a rink each. Unfortunately, Wedmore could only muster six players so had to forfeit points.

The men played a friendly with Wedmore three days later and once again it was one rink each. On the rink of J McKenzie, D Wynne, S Hedges and T Williams, it was nip and tuck all the way with Woodspring pipping them at the post and securing the game by just two shots.

Valentine’s Day saw the battle of the sexes at Woodspring for the coveted Brenda Dunston Cup. It was played over three sessions of triples with lunch provided by Ray Dunston, who donated the trophy in memory of his late wife (the catering was done by Mandy Sutton and helpers).

The ladies put up a valiant fight, but despite the rink of D Ward, M Tasker and S Weaden winning 14-5, they lost by just one shot.

Woodspring Ladies 24, Wedmore 28: P Wynne, J Holloway, M Tasker, B Cullen 10-14; S Noyes, S Collard, M Sutton, S Weaden 14-14.

Woodspring Men 36, Wedmore 40: J McKenzie, D Wynne, S Hedges, T Williams 20-18; G Pople, P Dimmock, G Sansam, G Finnegan 16-22.

Woodspring Ladies 23, Woodspring Men 24 (Brenda Dunston Cup) – Ladies: D Ward, M Tasker, S Weaden, P Wynne, J Sansam, M Williams, S Collard, C Hedges, M Sutton 23. Men: P Dimmock, G Sansam, D Wynne, B Jackman, R Tasker, T Williams, S Ash, G Fews, S Hedges 24.

Barrie Forse, of St Andrews, failed in his bid to reach the national finals of the EIBA men’s pairs championship when he lost 21-11 to Taunton Deane’s youthful Levi Hembrow in the area final at Street.

From a long way behind, Forse fought back well to get within four shots of his opponent, but Hembrow’s consistency and Forse’s problems with the weight of his shots saw the Taunton player through.

This week, Forse has two more chances to progress in the national championships. On Saturday, he and Ken Uglow are due to take on clubmates Craig Walker and Andrew Owens in the area final of the men’s pairs at Street.

With Owens currently suffering from a chipped bone in his foot, it seems likely that he will have to be replaced by a substitute.

On Sunday at Clevedon, Forse plays Clarrie Dunbar’s John Freeman for a place in the last 16 of the national over-60 singles.

With no matches at the weekend, St Andrews’ members have been playing off their club championships, which have now reached the semi-final stage.

Fourteen-year-old Imogen Cracknell is in three semis, while Andrew Owens was in four but, with Steve Davies standing in for him, his team lost in the drawn triples on Saturday to Barrie Forse’s trio.

Semi-final line-ups - Men’s singles: Brian Reeves v Phil Villis, Andrew Owens v Jim Keay. Ladies: Judy Forse v Ann Campbell, Jackie Pitman v Carolina Venn. Men’s pairs: George Cooper/Richard Venn v either Ron Gill/John Wilkes or Andrew Owens/Barrie Forse. Ladies: Jennifer McMillan/Imogen Cracknell v Judy Forse/Sue Sinclair, Becky and Marie McMillan v Carolina Venn, Audrey Powell.

Mixed pairs: Carolina and Richard Venn v Imogen Cracknell/Steve Davies, Ken Uglow/Ann Campbell v Becky McMillan/Andrew Owens. Mixed triples: Darrell Johnston/Judy and Barrie Forse v Imogen Cracknell/Becky McMillan/Don Bailey. Drawn triples: Luke Yeates/Judy Forse/Steve Davies (sub for Andrew Owens) 8, Jim Keay/Sue Sinclair/Barrie Forse 13 through to final v either Marie McMillan, George Webber/Ernie Hooper or Carolina and Richard Venn/Brian Reeves.

Mixed Fours – Ken Uglow/Jackie Pitman/Ann Campbell/Don Bailey v either Mo and Graham Millard/Carolina and Richard Venn or Imogen Cracknell/Becky McMillan/Andrew Owens/Steve Davies.

In a busy period of matches, Wedmore won matches five in a row.

In a mixed friendly at home to St Andrews, Wedmore won on both rinks with an overall score of 35 shots to 27. Tony Collingwood’s people were never behind and won two thirds of the ends to win 15-9. Colin Knott’s group took the lead for the second time on end 15 and kept their noses in front to win 20-18.

In a ladies’ friendly at home to Woodspring, the scores were fractioned due to being a player short on each rink causing a 25 per cent discount, resulting in an overall score of 28.5 to 25 shots.

Maureen Hordle’s group finished strongly to win 14.25 shots to 10, while Julie Masters’ rink finished with the extraordinary score of 14.25 to 14.

At home in another ladies’ friendly to Victoria, Wedmore won one rink and tied the other with an overall score of 31 shots to 24. Beryl Carson’s squad only lost the lead for one end and put in a finishing sprint to win 18-11.

In a closely fought game, Carol Hamblin’s four were narrowly in the lead throughout, but were caught at the last for a 13-all tie.

The men played away to Woodspring in a tight match, winning one rink and losing the other, but won overall with the score at 40 shots to 36. Roy Thurkettle’s men won 13 of 21 ends to win comfortably 22-16.

Keith Burt and company were in a close game where the lead changed hands several times with Wedmore in front at end 18. Woodspring put in a six score and narrowly won by 20 shots to 18.

At home to Bridgwater in a mixed friendly, Wedmore won on both rinks with an overall score of 38 shots to 23. Mike Green’s side took the lead on end four and never looked back to triumph 19-10.

Maureen Hordle’s team went behind initially, but clawed back to take the lead on end 12, scored six in the last four end to win 19-13.