St Andrews Bowling Club’s women made a successful start to their national Top Club campaign this week by winning 3-1 away to Keynsham on Saturday.

Although Saints are without two or three of their regular stalwarts through illness this season, they proved they are still a formidable combination, with England representative Rebecca McMillan giving them a 17-shot advantage in the singles.

Her sister Jenny and Jackie Pitman dominated the pairs, while mother Marie was in the winning triples team.

St Andrews men’s A team did well to win away to local rivals Clarence A in the Somerset County League.

Derek Hurst’s rink were always in control, while Darrell Johnston’s men, 5-9 down at halfway, recovered brilliantly to win by six.

Saints B team, which included four women, took 11 of the 12 points at home to Wedmore C as they won 60-52 overall.

The rink skipped by Alan Dawes scored nine in the last four ends to draw.

In the Over-55 KO Cup, St Andrews won 85-78 away to Yatton, despite having to concede a rink and ten shots because a player failed to show.

Saints’ mixed team suffered a last-end defeat at home to Purnell in the national Tony Allcock Trophy, losing by one.

Members of St Andrews send their best wishes to indoor vice-captain Anthony Page, who has been seriously ill with pneumonia in hospital in South Africa, where he had been due to play in the Disability Bowls World Championships.

There was sad news for the club at the weekend when long-time stalwart Richard Venn died in hospital after a battle against lung disease.

 

Full Results:

National Women’s Top Club: Keynsham 1, St Andrews 3.

Singles – R McMillan 21-4. Pairs – J McMillan/J Pitman 26-14. Triples – C Andrews, M McMillan, M Favis 20-15. Fours – F Allen, K Cromey, D Johns, J Bishop 15-19.

National Tony Allcock Trophy (mixed over-60 two-rink): St Andrews 28, Purnell 29.

A Lay, G Poole, Jill Bishop, Joan Duffy 11-13; Norma Peters, D Reynolds, Maureen Frost, B Duffy 17-16.

Men’s Somerset County League: North One – Clarence A 49 (2pts), St Andrews A 57 (10pts).

G Sims, J Keay, B Duffy, D Hurst 24-11. T Wyatt, G Wride, A Lay, D Stott 12-23; C Andrews, J Bullock, A McMillan, D Johnston 21-15.

North Three – St Andrews B 60 (11pts), Isle of Wedmore C 52 (1pt).

P Smart, Margaret Tovey, S Ash, M Goddard 20-14; Karen Taylor, Kevin Taylor, Jane Andrews, A Dawes 22-22; Wendy O’Sullivan, D Reynolds, G Poole, A Ware 18-16.

Weston & Dist Over-55 League KO Cup: Yatton 78, St Andrews 85.

L Fisher, A Pattenden, A Dawes 20-13; M Peters, J Keay, B Duffy 20-15; A Cooper, M Dew, B Reeves 9-12; D Reynolds, D Bailey, G Wride 17-11; G Sims, G Poole, A Ware 19-17; one rink and 10 shots forfeited by St Andrews, player didn’t turn up.

Over-55 League Div One: Burnham-on-Sea 126 (18pts), St Andrews 88 (2pts).

L Fisher, M Dew, B Reeves 25-17; D Reynolds, D Bailey, D Stott 14-17; S Ash, R Potter, G Wride 15-22; M Peters, A Dawes, B Duffy 11-28; A Cooper, G Poole, A McMillan 12-23; G Andrews, G Sims, A Ware 11-19.

Tourists: St Andrews 65, Llansawel 87.

P Smart, G Andrews, S Ash, M Goddard 21-15; M Peters, G Sims, G Poole, B Duffy 9-30; D Reynolds, A Pattenden, M Dew, D Hurst 12-21; N James (guest), A McMillan, I Allchorne, S Angove 23-21.

National Fantastic Fives Indoor League: North Petherton Hornets 6, St Andrews Seagulls 2.

Singles – P Villis 8-13. Pairs – Jill Bishop/D Johnston 6-11. Triples – J Smith, B Reeves, P Villis 4-19. Fours – J Smith, J Bishop, B Reeves, D Johnston 6-5.