With Team GB winning Gold in the Olympic Games, it was also a golden day last Saturday at Purnell Bowls Club for the men. The A Team knew if they beat Taunton Deane, 12–0, it would put them 35 points ahead of their nearest rivals, Clevedon Prom, who would have to win each of their remaining three games with the maximum points of twelve.
On a very blustery, wet day, it could not have gone better. The Purnell lads mastered the conditions tremendously, with all three rinks winning with a massive total score of 84–27, giving them the twelve points needed and with still a game to go at St Andrews, Weston-super-Mare, in a fortnight.
It was a nervous wait on Sunday morning for the results and thanks to the boys of Fosseway, they took two points from the game, making it impossible for the seasiders to get the 36 points needed to win the league, making Purnell’s A Team Somerset County Premier Two League Champions.
The B Team also had an objective on the day. After securing the Somerset County East Two title a week ago, they wanted to be the only team in all divisions, of some 103 teams, getting through the season winning all their games. It was against second place Norwest B and what a battle it was! It came down to the last wood, with Purnell B needing second wood to win the game by one shot and they did it, well done lads, you have fought hard all season to achieve the almost impossible.
For the men of Purnell, this has been the greatest season in the club’s history, winning Somerset County Premier Two, Somerset County East Two, the Central Division of the Mid-Somerset Bowls League and to cap it all, there are Mike Pratt, John Mathews and Steve Amor representing the club in the National Triples competition at Leamington Spa this week, and they will be competing in the final of the Somerset County Triples at Bloomfield in September. The club wishes them the best of luck.
If you would like to try out the great game of bowls, give Don a ring on: 01761 471019 to arrange free coaching.
Perhaps you are just ending your days playing rugby, football or cricket and want a new sport – we can assure you, you will not be disappointed. You won’t know what you are missing until you have tried it!
Bryn Hawkins