If anyone had said little old Purnell Bowls Club after seven games the Men’s A team would be on the top of the Somerset Premier Bowls League, the B team would be second in Somerset East One and the C team would be fourth in East Two, they would have been laughed out of court.

It was the Somerset Turnball Cup, away to Chew Stoke, on Tuesday, the Purnell lads coming away with a good win, next for them is an away game against Weston Bath.

Last weekend started on Friday, with a trip to the mighty Bath, in the National Top Club competition, with wins by John Mathews in the four wood singles, the triples of Matt Elly, Adrian Church and Paul Curtis and the fours of Don Dart, Jim Jones, Steve Amor and Mike Talbot. The lads came away from Bath in great spirits with a 3-2 win, it’s now the area final against either Clevedon Prom or Bristol.

On Saturday, with several players short, the A team travelled to Clevedon Prom, on a very fast difficult green they lost on two rinks, but Terry Priddle, Adrian Church, Paul Curtis and John Mathews had a resounding win, by 17 shots, which won the match points 8-4, this win took them six points clear of Bath at the top of the Somerset Premier League.

The B team visited Imperial Bristol on their artificial green and won on all rinks, points 12-0 taking them to second in the league, the C team had an away game at Bloomfield C and won 10-2, losing on just one rink, and they go up to fourth.

On Wednesday, in the Mid-Somerset League, Norwest were the visitors, the home team looked right off it with three ends to go, but a great six, achieved from a firing shot from skip Dave Chamberlain, put the home side back in front, eventually winning the match, points 12-4. They are still on the top of the league, without losing a game so far.

The Ladies had a good result, winning on all rinks, away to Prattens, but just failed, away to Keynsham, in the Fear Cup by just two shots.

There is still time during July, on Saturday mornings, at 10 a.m., to give bowls a try, just come along to Bristol Road, everything found, with a cup of coffee or tea and biscuits thrown in.

Bryn Hawkins