ON a mild winter's Sunday morning, punctuated by intermittent showers, the Men's Triples League at Falmouth Bowling Club settled down to a fascinating morning's bowling with its fair share of upsets.

Top of the league Chacewater/Fal Frostbites found themselves under the cosh of Penryn's Hasbeens as the Penryn side soared to an 8-0 lead after seven ends. The Frostbites, skipped by David Winnan, Paddy McMullen at no 2 and Rob Brown leading, were having great trouble holding the Hasbeens skipped by Godfrey Curnow, Marshall Curnow at No 2 and, making a welcome return to the bowling scene, Mike Churcher, leading, and it was no surprise as after 13 ends the Hasbeens had built up a 12-3 lead.

Suddenly the whole game changed as the Frostbites with a 2-1-4-5 amazingly had taken over the lead 15-12. Although the Hasbeens picked up two shots on the last end the Frostbites had got out of gaol and won 15-14.

Shock of the day was the defeat of the league's second placed team, Stithians Ranchers, skipped by Ed Watson, Harry Barnes at No 2 and Dave Rickard leading, by Mawnan's Brass Monkies skipped by Chris Gee, Tony Stevenson at No 2 and Don Hall leading.

The Brass Monkies team are frequent visitors to the club for practice and their work and practice sessions certainly paid dividends as they all bowled extremely well. This game was very tight from the first end, as both teams were level at 1-1, 4-4, 11-11, 12-12 and 13-13. It was only in the 15th end that the Brass Monkies took control to win the last four ends 1-2-3-1 to go on and win 20-13 and drop the Ranchers down to third place in the league.

Falmouth Packets, skipped by David Hay, Tony Pereir at No 2 and John Bobin leading, were the next team to feel the threat of defeat by the rapidly improving Helston's Dancers skipped by Russell Dawes, with D Summers at No 2 and Terry Channon leading. The Dancers had the better of the start, taking a 12-6 lead after nine ends, and they kept the pressure on the Packets with Terry Channon leading particularly well as the Dancers gradually eased their way to the winning post 20-13 and now move up to fourth place in the league.

Falmouth's Waisters, skipped by Andy Richards, Paul Jordan at No 2 and John Maunder leading, got away to a great start to lead 17-2 after eight ends against Mawnan/Truro Rustlers, skipped by John Bullen, Malcolm Dearnley at no 2 and David Edgecombe leading. Although the Rustlers made a mini comeback they could not prevent the Waisters eventually taking control and power to a 31-12 win.

The Waisters have recently had some big scores and now move into second place in the league with an amazing +95 shot difference. However, they still remain five points in arrears of the Frostbites and they will need help from other teams, plus a win over the Frostbites to make any inroads on the championship leaders.

Constantine's Odd Bod 2s got away to a good start against Carnon's Cavaliers, skipped by Dave Thomas, Peter George at No 2 and R Costen leading. The Odd Bod 2s, skipped by Bob Mynett, Phil Law at No 2 and Anton Hawley leading, worked out a 14-5 lead after 11 ends and by the 15th end led 18-6. The Cavaliers suddenly changed up a gear to score 5-2-3 on the last three ends, but they had left their challenge too late as the Odd Bod 2's ran out winners 18-16.

Redruth/Falmouth Nomads, skipped by John Jones, Rodney Richards at No 2 and Melville Angel leading, went ahead 9-3 after seven ends against Constantine's Odd Bod 1s skipped by Steve O'Donoghue, Ron Curnow at no 2 and John Drayson leading. The Nomads, every time they scored, managed to collect 2s, 3s and 4s whereas the Odd Bod 1s could only score single shots. Eventually the Nomads built up a substantial lead to go on and win 23-9.

Results Nomads (Redruth/Falmouth) v Odd Bod 1s (Constantine): J Jones 23, S O'Donoghue 9; Carnon Cavaliers v Odd Bod 2s (Constantine): D Thomas 16, R Mynett 18; Rustlers (Mawnan/ Truro) v Waisters (Falmouth): J Bullen 12, A Richards 31; Packets (Falmouth) v Dancers (Helston): D Hay 13, R Dawes 20; Brass Monkies (Mawnan) v Ranchers (Stithians): C Gee 20, E Watson 13; Frostbites (Chacewater/Falmouth) v Hasbeens (Penryn): D Winnan 15, G Curnow 14.

Twenty-seven bowlers under the age of 18 attended the Veryan Indoor Bowling Club on Saturday to compete for the Veryan Shield.

The competition was run on a round robin scheme for under 15 and under 18s. Thirteen players attended from Constantine, five from Chacewater, making up the bulk of competitors.

The under 15 event was won by Brendan Hitchens from Chacewater with Anton Hawley from Constantine as runner up. The under 18 event was won by David Iddles from Veryan with Matt Carney and Zoe Lea from Constantine reaching the semi finals.

The county president, Brian Greaves and county coach David Parr, were in attendance for this excellent turnout of young local bowlers.