Purnell Bowls Club’s week began with the County Triples Competition on Monday. Last year’s runners-up Triple from the club of Mike Pratt, John Mathews and Steve Amor, are out to go a stage further by winning the County Triples this year.

Unfortunately, because of poor health, Mike Pratt has been forced to withdraw from the team and Terry Priddle has come in to take his place.

Their first games have both been the tightest of matches, winning on a measure on the last end against a Bath Triple on Monday, then it was another tight affair on Friday, against another Purnell team of Jim Jones, Len Gunstone and Den Skehan, who were in front all the way through and again, they got through on a measure.

The club has another Triple through Jim Towells, Don Dart and Hugh Lorimer, who won against Kevin Jones’ team from Bloomfield.

On a glorious midweek day, the lads travelled to Fry’s at Keynsham, playing on a superb green – winning on three rinks and drawing on the other.

After the A team’s great start to the season in the Somerset County Premier, winning their opening two games, it was time to be tested by the League’s champions, Ilminster, and what a game it turned out to be.

Steve Amor’s rink was always in contention throughout the match, but went behind on the penultimate end when the Ilminster skip fired and took the jack back near the ditch. They then dropped a two, losing one on the last end and ultimately losing on the rink by three.

Hugh Lorimer’s rink went behind early in the game, although they did get it back at the end – all credit to them against County players.

The highlight for the club was Mike Talbot’s rink of Jim Towells, Mel Bowen and Dave Chamberlain, who fell behind half-way through the game, but made a remarkable recovery, winning the last eight ends 12–0.

They finished up by winning a very commendable six shots – a very good result against another Ilminster rink of County players. This was a very good fight by the Purnell lads, losing the match by just nine shots to last year’s league champions.

Both double rinks are in action this week as the B team travel to Bath on Thursday and the A team are home on Sunday at 10 a.m. to Frome Selwood.

You can still join Purnell Bowls Club – just turn up and have a go; you will be made most welcome and there is no membership to pay for the first year.

Bryn Hawkins