Ilminster’s men beat Minehead 99-51 in the first round of the Denny Plate, a national competition featuring two rinks at each club.

They now play either Donyatt or Watchet in the next round.

Scores – home: Will Anderson, Dave Collins, Neil Rowe and John Ridout 31, J Maskell 12; Simon McBride, Eric Keitch, Bev Brister and Peter Mattravers 16, N Cox 16.

Away: Alan Holt, D Hynard, Ian Lightfoot and Jason Miles 24, M Packer 11; Gerry Morris, Andy Williams, Rowland Garland and Kevin Hamilton 28, J Male 12. On Sunday an Ilminster mixed team were away to St Andrews of Weston Super Mare in the Top Club where they only drew one rink and lost the other four against a very strong home team. Scores – Ladies 2 wood singles: Dot Whelan 8, J Ware 19; men’s 2 wood singles: Gerry Morris 10, G Guest 14; 4 wood Pairs: Heather Grinter and Dave Hynard 12, B Forse 33; 3 wood triples: Maureen Mitchell, Heather Sims and Barry Sims 13, A Owens 32; fours: Dave Collins, Penny Stow, Ian Lightfoot and June Checketts 16, D Bailey 16.

Also on Sunday Ilminster welcomed Chardstock for a three rink mixed friendly, running out winners by 72 shots to 52.

Scores: John Bailey, Jack Newman, Dave Cox and Cyril Cox 27, Marjorie Davenport, B Howard, G Bodily and P Compton 19; Val Dargue, Gary Riste, Owen Mico and Brian Welch 18, B Vickers, Ann Sebright, N Denslow and M Davenport 19; Joyce Mico, Eddy Hadfield, Arthur Callaghan and Roy Orme 27, Phylis Baldwin, J Tucker. Sheila Jeffery and K Warren 14.

n CHARD A beat Hemyock B 8-0, with a shot score of 86-42, at home in the East Devon league.

But the result failed to reflect some excellent play by Hemyock with lots of shots hitting the jack.

In the week’s Milford and Dormor league the top two teams both had a scare.

Harelequins trailed Canaries until tenth end. From then on they pulled away to win 12-6 but each end was ‘touch and go’.

Royals were pushed even harder by Hurricanes, trailing throughout the match until levelling the score on the penultimate end. Fortunately for them, Royals took the last end by two shots to win 12-10.

Greyhounds were out of luck against Magpies and lost 21-7.

League placings: 1 Harlequins P7 Ps 12; Royals 6, 10; Greyhounds 6, 6; Magpies 6, 4; Canaries 7, 4; Hurricanes 6, 2.