Paulton Rovers in seventh heaven again as Wimborne Town are walloped

November 30, 2013, 9:00 am

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MATCH REPORT: Paulton Rovers 7 Wimborne Town 0 Paulton Rovers hit seven for the second Calor League Division 1 South & West game running as they demolished fellow top-six side Wimborne thanks to a superb team display. After two shots were cleared off the line and several excellent saves from visiting keeper Jason Harvell, Rovers went ahead after 31 minutes. Ben Lacey broke down the right and found Josh Klein-Davies, who turned the ball home. The hosts added two quick goals before the interval. First, Lacey's shot was turned away for a corner taken by Brandon Barnes on the right and headed home by Marcus Mapstone. Two minutes later it was 3-0 to Paulton. Klein-Davies and Lacey both had shots blocked and the ball fell to Darren Jefferies to drive it into the net. They added to their advantage immediately after the restart when Dean Evans played the ball to Lacey and, after his shot was parried by Harvell, man of the match Klein-Davies tapped in his second. The fifth goal arrived just before the hour mark when Lacey found Jefferies on the right and he cut inside before finding Barnes, who scored with a volley. Lacey outpaced the Wimborne defence in the 76th minute and turned the ball into the path of Nick McCootie, who had just come off the bench, to tap home Rovers' sixth goal. And it was the substitute who completed the rout in the closing stages as he converted a penalty after being fouled in the area.

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Winscombe event in aid of Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance

November 30, 2013, 12:00 pm

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MUSIC fans can watch live bands and help raise money for Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance at an event in Winscombe. Bodstock Christmas Party Fundraiser on December 28 will help shake of those mince pies and raise cash for Bodstock festival 2014 and the air ambulance charity. Friends and family of Robert Hordern who was tragically killed in Cheddar in 2009, aged 30, have organised Bodstock for the last three years. Event organiser, Paul Ball said: "The event at Winscombe Royal Legion Club is a way of remembering Robert and raising money for the services who tried to help him in his final hours." "Smaller events throughout the year help to fund the larger festival once a year." Robert was known as Bod by friends and family, he loved music and used to DJ in Bristol, the creation of Bodstock was thought to be the best way to celebrate his life. The night at Winscombe Royal Legion Club will feature local acoustic artists – Romance and the Beatnick, Beside the Gray, Lauren Male, Louisa Jane, Oliver Black, Yousef Haddu, Temerity Den and Lyrical Fret. There will also be a raffle with prizes such as 'Own a pony for a day' at an equestrian centre, three course meal for two at Ask in Wells including a bottle of Prosecco, an original artwork by a Winscombe artist and a signed picture of Colin Firth from the Kings Speech. Doors will open for Bodstock Christmas Party Fundraiser at 2pm. Tickets are £10 including a food voucher. Visit www.bodstock.co.uk for details of how to get tickets or ring Paul Ball on 07748961458.

Volunteers help tidy up St Nicholas and St Mary's Church in Stowey

November 30, 2013, 9:00 pm

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Twenty keen church-goers have blitzed the area around the parish church in Stowey.

After the success of last year's clean-up of St Nicholas and St Mary's Church, it was decided to make it a regular occurrence.

Churchwarden Jill Nicol was delighted with the response and the result of the hard work carried out by the volunteers who turned up this year

She said the volunteers cut the grass, trimmed the edges, weeded the graves and took ivy off the walls.

Mrs Nicol added: "The end result was a pristine churchyard, ready once more for the winter.

"Although the weather was rather damp and dreary, spirits were high and we all had time for a chat and lots of coffee and cake was on hand to keep us going.

"Our little church needs people, not just to come to services, but also to undertake small tasks – tasks that people may take for granted."

Locks Hill clinic in Frome to shut for the day for IT work

November 30, 2013, 9:00 pm

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The surgery at Locks Hill, in Frome, will be closed on Tuesday, December 3, for the installation of a new clinical software system.

All patients will be seen at the Frome Health Centre in Enos Way on that day.

The walk-in clinic at Frome Community Hospital will remain open. However, a ticketing system will be in operation for the duration of the changeover.

The practice has also announced that on both Tuesday and Wednesday, December 3 and 4, the walk-in blood clinic at the health centre will not be operating.

Louisa Daly, the operations manager at the practice, said: "We are installing a new IT system which means that both our clinical and our administrative staff will then be able to process tasks quicker and more efficiently.

"'We are not complacent. We listen to what our patients tell us and we believe that once this system is installed and bedded down, patients will then begin to notice a real improvement in level of service.

"On December 3 and 4 we have endeavoured to keep any inconvenience and delay to an absolute minimum.

"There may inevitably be some delay, particularly at the walk-in clinic at the community hospital, but we would ask that patients bear with us during this very short time."

For further information on the changes, patients are asked to visit the websitewww.frome medicalpractice.co.uk or call 01373 300301.

Cabaret fundraiser in Pensford helps Pancreatic Cancer UK

November 30, 2013, 9:00 pm

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A memorial night at Pensford has raised £1,625 for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

The cabaret night held at Pensford Memorial Hall was organised by Amy Wilcox in memory of her grandfather, Reginald Johnson, after he died suddenly from the condition.

Comedian Lee Carroll compered the night, which began with half an hour of Amy singing songs accompanied by Chris Griffiths on piano, with some people being moved to tears as they watched it.

Additional funds were raised through a raffle and bingo.

Amy's father, Steve Wilcox, said: "The atmosphere of philanthropy was high, with winners of some prizes auctioning them back.

"Some people that couldn't make it to the night have sent donations in.

"We wanted to pull off a quality event at the same time as generating funds for this cause."

Frome Town Youth Band to play movie music at concert

November 30, 2013, 9:00 pm

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Frome Town Youth Band will be presenting music from the movies and seasonal favourites in a concert at Frome Memorial Theatre on Saturday, December 7 at 7.30pm.

Rehearsals have been in full swing since October at the band room in Randolph Road in Frome.

The band has 35 players from the age of eight years old upwards.

The Christmas concert is the highlight and culmination of a full year's programme which has seen the band performing at various fetes and events in and around the town as well as being a feature of many of the traditional town events such as the Armistice service at St John's Church, Frome Carnival and concerts on the bandstand in Victoria Park.

This year for the first time the band played in the festival of brass band music organised by the Wells City Band.

Tickets for the Christmas concert cost £8 and are available from the theatre box office.

Frome author Peter Clark talks about Palestine writing

November 30, 2013, 9:00 pm

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Frome author Peter Clark, one of a panel of judges chosen to select the Best Book on Palestine 2012/13 for a prize awarded by the Middle Eastern Monitor, will be talking about new writing in Palestine for Frome Friends of Palestine on Thursday, December 5, at St Catherine's Hall, Park Road, Frome, at 7.30pm.

Entry costs £4 with proceeds to the Palestine Festival of Literature.

Mr Clark is an expert on Middle Eastern literature and a founding trustee of the International prize for Arab Fiction.

Rescued animals at Spering Court Animal Rescue Centre in need of new home

November 30, 2013, 9:00 pm

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A Llama and a pony are just two of the many rescued animals that have been re-homed by the Spering Court Animal Rescue Centre since the last time the Frome Standard caught up with all the goings on there.

The Buckland Down centre has also received many donations of food and funds, following the article the Standard ran in the autumn.

But the centre still has animals coming in all the time and the owner, Roy Steggles, said the it needs the support of the community.

Mr Steggles and his wife Linda have recently rehomed Charlie, a seven-month-old springer spaniel and said he is doing really well.

He said: "We are really pleased with how the rehoming has gone, Charlie is doing really well with a ex-army chap.

"Since the autumn we have managed to build a new aviary and have put the roof on the stables. But we could do with a handy man to help with a few things, if they have a few spare hours."

The centre recently received an underweight cat that came in from the Paulton area, who will be ready for rehoming in the next few weeks, and another ginger cat has come in from Frome.

Mr Steggles said: "When we are approached by people who have found animals, we always encourage them to put a little advert in their local shop or at the vets, just in case they have been lost or stolen."

Mr Steggles said the animals will generally be ready to be rehomed after about 14 days.

Other animals that need a new home include a father and son ferrets, who are very easy to handle and came to the centre from a breeder who did not wish to continue.

Missie the cat, who came from Bristol and Wales Cat Rescue, is desperate for a new home.

Mr Steggles said: "Missie is very friendly, a good hunter and about four or five years old, she is also microchipped and is ready to find a new loving owner.

"Twiggy, who came from the Paulton area was very skinny when she arrived and we could feel every vertebrae, but now she is on a steady diet and looking much healthier.

"She is the most adorable cat ever and loves to sleep on a comfy lap and all she wants is to be loved."

Are you over 16 and looking to volunteer or could you give a rescued animal a good home?

If so, get in touch with Mr Steggles on 01373 812845.

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Chilcompton's Emma Welch, 12, scales Everest

November 30, 2013, 10:00 pm

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A 12-YEAR-OLD girl from Chilcompton has scaled amazing heights for charity by climbing the equivalent of Mount Everest. Emma Welch had to ascend an indoor climbing wall 1,209 times to reach the same height as the world's highest peak. She was raising money for Brain Tumour Research after being inspired by her Baptist church minister Andrew Stammers, who, despite being diagnosed with a brain tumour, has completed a 100-mile canal walk to raise funds and awareness of the disease. The feat is all the more incredible as Emma was diagnosed last year with scoliosis, an abnormal curving of the spine. "I thought it was fantastic what Andrew did and it made me think about what I could do," she said. "I decided that this was my chance to prove that just because I have a curved spine it does not mean I can't change things. "If this helps to find a cure for brain cancer, then it's definitely worth it." She was joined at the summit by Paul Keleher, who climbed Mount Everest back in 2012. Mr Keleher placed the London 2012 Olympic flag on the summit of the world's highest mountain. Speaking after she had completed the climb at Writhlington Sports Centre Mr Keleher said: "It's an amazing feat because Everest isn't vertical and what she's done is climb that distance vertically – it's just inspiring." Brain Tumour Research's chief executive Sue Farrington Smith said: "In order to fund a year's research at just one Centre of Excellence we need to raise £1 million so we rely greatly on our amazing fundraisers and supporters like Emma and Andrew." Brain Tumour Research was started in April 2009 to raise awareness of and funding for scientific research into brain tumours and improve outcomes for brain tumour patients. Guinness World Records confirmed that Emma would become the youngest person to climb the height of Everest on an indoor climbing wall.

Highbridge ASDA gets green light for petrol station

November 30, 2013, 10:00 pm

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ASDA claims that the opening of a new petrol station Highbridge could help push down petrol prices in the area. The superstore has welcomed the decision by Sedgemoor District Council to give the green light to a petrol station at its store. The council's Development Committee voted in favour of the planning application on Tuesday November 26. Estates town planning manager for ASDA, Alan Jones, said: "We're pleased with the decision and grateful to the district councillors for their support. "It is well known that Asda's petrol prices generally drive down the cost of petrol in a local area, increasing competition and improving choice. We're looking forward to bringing those famous low-prices to Highbridge." Councillor Mike Mansfield said: "I'm all in favour. I live five minutes from this store. It will be an asset. It will bring the price of petrol down in Burnham and Highbridge." A report by district council planning officer Chris Gomm recommended approval. He pointed out that the Highway Authority raised no objection and that conditions would be imposed to make sure any light or noise nuisance to neighbours would be kept to a minimum. His report concluded: "The petrol filling station is situated within the Highbridge development boundary where the principle of commercial development is accepted. "It is also within an existing supermarket car park. The highway arrangements are satisfactory and adequate car parking will continue to be available to patrons of the main store. "Noise and disturbance to neighbouring residents will not result by virtue of the hours of operation, the nature of the use and restrictive conditions." The petrol station will consist of eight filling points at four pumps at the entrance to the store car park. The opening hours will be the same as those for the ASDA foodstore , 7am-10pm. Most visitors are expected to be existing customers who will buy petrol at the same time as they do their shopping. The design of the fuel station includes stacking capacity on the forecourt so that cars don't queue up on the approach to the store. There will also be a new pedestrian crossing east of the supermarket entrance. The planning application was approved by eight votes to five.

Warren Farm wins Tesco Dairy Farmer of the Year

November 30, 2013, 10:30 pm

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A MAESBURY family farm has fought off national competition to win the Tesco Dairy Farmer of the Year award. The award was given to SJ Stevens and Sons: George Stevens, Phillip Cotterell, and his wife Anne-Marie who are based at Warren Farm, Maesbury. The farm impressed the judging panel with their high welfare and excellent attention to detail. "This is a dedicated family farm where the cows are very much treated as members of the family, and as such is highly presentable to the general public," said Graham Wilkinson, dairy manager for Tesco. Judges were impressed by the low lameness and exceptionally low mastitis rate, indicating high welfare and low antibiotic use. Also noted were the rubber mats installed in feed passages to reduce lameness risk and the adoption of feeding cows in late afternoon through winter to reduce starling visits (a potential source of disease and reduction in feed intakes). Mr Stevens said the farm has been supplying to Tesco for about ten years. He said: "We were quite surprised when we found out we'd won – we didn't nominate ourselves. "The cows are part of the family. I'm 66 now and I was a year old when we came to this farm. We've more or less built it up over the last 60 years and about ten years ago my son-in-law came with his cows and we've gone from there." Shepton Vets' Michael Head, who carries out regular health visits to the farm, said: "I am delighted that the hard work put in and high standards achieved have been recognised with this national award." Alan Creed of PH Creed and Son, East Pennard, was highly commended in the competition. The judging panel was particularly impressed with cow cleanliness and the lack of leg lesions due to the spacious sand cubicles. Mr Creed said he is planning on increasing herd vaccination to reduce sick cows and antibiotic use further.

Mystery pic - do you remember the Fosse Lane Roman coffin?

November 30, 2013, 11:30 pm

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DO you remember this story? Part of our archives are missing and we have the pictures, but no stories. Can you help? The caption reads: The controversial Roman coffin being lifted from its resting place near Fosse Lane, Shepton Mallet, during archaeological work before building development started

Looking Back: The winter when the snow just kept on falling ... and falling

December 1, 2013, 12:00 am

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NOW that the scarves and gloves have come out it's fair to say that winter has well and truly arrived.

With some national media outlets reporting that this winter could be the worst for decades, this week's Looking Back recalls a famously harsh winter.

The levels of snow in the winter of 1963 made the roads in and around Wells almost impassable.

Being 50 years ago now, not everyone will remember how treacherous the conditions were, but one Wells man has brought in some pictures which show how bad it was.

Mike Baker was driving his little red Mini that year and fortunately had his camera with him to record the scenes.

He said: "Most cars then were rear-wheel drive and had a hard time getting about – but the Mini was one of the first front-wheel drive cars around then. It made it easier to drive in those conditions.

"Once, a digger had been trying to clear the snow off the road but couldn't get any further. I was behind it and couldn't see past.

"I ended up facing a wall of snow and there wasn't enough room to turn around. I had to reverse all the way back through a canyon of snow."

Let's hope we don't see quite so much of the white stuff this winter. Though a bit on Christmas Day might be nice.

Drink driver David Burrows tells police: 'I've had four pints'

December 1, 2013, 12:00 am

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WHEN police received a tip-off that a man had been drinking before getting behind the wheel of his car they saw the man pulling into a petrol station in Glastonbury. They saw David Martin Burrows get out of the vehicle and he was unsteady on his feet and smelt of alcohol. After failing a roadside breath test he told the officers: "I put my hands up to this, I've had four pints." Burrows, aged 35, of Strode Road, Street, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol on Wirral Park, Glastonbury, on October 31 when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil. Prosecutor Emma Chetland said that just before 11.30pm the police had a call to say that Burrows was driving to Tesco in Glastonbury from Street and had been drinking. "There were concerns he was over the limit and when the officers saw his vehicle pull onto the forecourt of the Esso petrol station he got out and was unsteady on his feet," she said. At the police station he produced a reading of 95mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol. Defending, Jeffrey Bannister said that Burrows bitterly regretted what happened and had now lost his job as a carpet fitter and consequently his home. The magistrates disqualified Burrows from driving for two years and was fined £300 with £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

How to cook your husband - a reader's suggestion

December 1, 2013, 3:45 am

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LETTERS to the editor of the Wells Journal have featured since the very first edition in 1851 and have covered a myriad of topics both local and national reflecting the political and social life of the time of their writing.

In 1854 the editor of the paper was James Motes Atkins and he published a rather odd letter on March 29 under the heading How to cook a husband.

"Dear Sir,

I believe husbands would generally be a great deal better than they are, were their wives to manage them better, but they spoil them in the cooking.

Some use them as if they were bladders, they blow them up.

Others keep them almost constantly in hot water, while others instead of cooking them properly, almost freeze them by the coolness of their own conjugal temperature. Others again smother them with hatred, contention and variance. Some actually put them in a pickle and keep them so all their lives.

Most of these bad managing wives nearly always serve them up with neglect and tongue sauce.

Now, it is to be expected that husbands should be tender and good when managed in this manner?

Is it not rather a wonder that they are not worse?

The plan a wife should adopt is to preserve them.

Some husbands I am aware, are not to be rendered endurable by any treatment, but there are a few that are quite delicious when well preserved.

The manner is as follows:

Get a jar of carefulness, (which by the by all good wives will have at hand) being placed in it set him near the fire of conjugal love, let the fire be pretty hot and let the heat be regular and constant.

Cover him well over with equal quantities of affection, kindness, submission and subjection and be very attentive.

Garnish with modest, becoming familiarity and innocent pleasantry and if you add kisses or other confections accompany them with a sufficient amount of secrecy and it would not be amiss to add a little prudence and moderation.

Were all wives in England to preserve this recipe the country would be quite metamorphosed."

The letter is simply signed "a cook".

Clare Blackmore

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Looking back at Shepton Mallet allotment awards

December 1, 2013, 3:45 am

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WITH "growing your own" ever more popular, this week's Looking Back recalls the Shepton Mallet Allotment Awards back in 1963. Before the start of the council's monthly meeting, chairman of the Public Services Committee, Councillor W A Witcombe, presented awards in the gardening and allotments competition. The story from 50 years ago reads: "It was perhaps appropriate that a bowl of attractive chrysanthemums adorned the centre of the table at Shepton Mallet Urban District Council meeting on Tuesday. "For flowers occupied a great deal of the council business. "At the end of the meeting a bowl of flowers was presented by Councillor Witcombe to Councillor Miss G A Hill as a token of long service to the council by the chairman, Councillor Lionel J Edwards. "Earlier, another flower topic came up when the council accepted a Finance Committee's recommendation that they supported the British Holiday and Travel Association's 'Britain in Bloom' campaign. "In presenting the allotment and garden awards, Mr Witcombe said a pleasant feature was the regularity of attendance by the winners on presentation night, especially those in the gardening section. "He congratulated the winners and had something to say about the gardens of the 460 council houses in the town: 'Twice during the season I walked round the town and it occurred to me in a number of cases a little more foresight and improvement in some gardens could have made our judges task more difficult than it was. 'I saw some beautiful gardens and a little better layout and design would have made a great difference.'"

Looking Back: Cheddar Valley WI

December 1, 2013, 3:45 am

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WITH country markets busier than ever as people stock up their fridges and cupboards in the lead up to Christmas, this week Looking Back visits a popular 1980s WI Market when it first began. Remarkably a country market is still held every Tuesday at Church House in Cheddar. This is how we reported the opening of the Cheddar Valley WI's first weekly market in 1989: "The new Cheddar Valley WI Market opened its doors to the public last week. "The market will be held every Tuesday morning from 10am to 11am at the Church House in Cheddar for the sale of freshly made goods. "Doreen Hurrell was the co-ordinator of the market."

Paul Banks' first-half goal earns Welton Rovers victory over Westbury United

December 1, 2013, 8:45 am

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MATCH REPORT: Welton Rovers 1 Westbury United 0 Welton Rovers made it three Toolstation Premier Division wins on the trot with victory over their determined visitors from Wiltshire. In a lively start to the contest, a deep cross from Carl Stone fell into the arms of Westbury keeper Alex Shaftoe as Paul Banks pressed. Then good work by Dan Cottle found Chris Peck in space and his first-time shot was saved by Shaftoe. At the other end, Welton keeper Andy King blocked an effort from Mark Young. A cracking 25-yard shot from Cottle went inches wide of the Westbury post before King saved well to deny Westbury's Wayne Wheeler. The game's only goal arrived on 15 minutes when Anthony Conradi's ball from the right was missed by the Westbury defence and Banks was on hand to slot it into the net. Welton nearly added a second when a 30-yard thunderbolt from Conradi was tipped over the bar by Shaftoe. Banks then had the ball in the Westbury net but his effort was ruled out for offside. Richie Chandler's last-ditch tackle denied Adam James and, as half-time approached, Shaftoe was booked for handling the ball outside the area. A mistake in the Welton defence allowed the ball to fall to Mark Young and he struck a first-time shot that thumped against the crossbar. Just before the break referee Welsh was called into action following a melee involving several players after Joseph Murray was fouled. In the end, he booked two players from each side. The second half began with early pressure from Welton, who forced a couple of corners that were dealt with by the visitors. Andrew Keen was then put through on the Westbury goal and his goalbound shot was saved by the trailing leg of Shaftoe. Then, as Welton pressed, Banks curled his shot towards the far corner of the net but the keeper was on hand to save well again. Shaftoe was sent off 15 minutes from time after bundling over Conradi as he raced goalwards. Even with ten men Westbury were dangerous on the break and from set-pieces. A stunning free-kick from Nathan Hallett was well saved by King to keep Welton ahead. Just before the final whistle, the numbers were equal again after Welton's Tom Smith was shown his second yellow card of the game.

Leaders Chew Valley fight back to beat Midsomer Norton in derby clash

December 1, 2013, 9:00 am

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MATCH REPORT: Chew Valley 28 Midsomer Norton 19 Chew Valley were second-best for much of their derby clash with Midsomer Norton but fought back to record their 11th win in 12 Western Counties North matches this term. Norton played smart rugby, dominated the breakdown and mixed up their plays to enjoy the upper hand for the first 50 minutes of the contest, with outside half Taylor bringing hard-running centres Mitchard and Prentice into the game. After home full-back Tom Bryan missed the first of three first-half kicks, the next Norton attack saw Chew Valley fall off tackles and Mitchard made the break to put full-back Tom Day in at the corner. Scrum-half Ben Moon added the conversion. Bryan clawed back three points after the Norton forwards were penalised but the visiting pack made up for that with a series of driving mauls. From a 5m scrum, Mitchard picked a perfect line to crash over for a try, converted by Moon. Further indiscipline and back chat did Norton no favours and, with the last play of the half, a rehearsed lineout ploy after a penalty was kicked to the corner saw Luke Sparkes Brown deliver off the top to second row Alex Cox. He hit a gap at pace to score a try and give Chew Valley something to build on for the second half. Norton responded at the start of the second half when Mitchard's offload in the tackle put winger Miller in at the corner. With some concerned faces among the home support and three replacements on the field, Chew Valley began to claw their way back into the game through their back row. Mitch Quoi carried strongly and forced penalties, two of which Bryan converted. The game turned around the 60-minute mark when Chew Valley set up the perfect driving maul from 28m out. With a yellow card warning in place, Norton were unable to stop steady progress to the line. Winger Silas Cox helped the maul along and it was finished off with a score from skipper Tom Waddington. Bryan converted to nose his side in front for the first time. From the restart, Taylor misjudged his kick and Alex Cameron, on at scrum-half, broke from the back of a solid scrum to feed Bryan. He hit the gap at pace and had enough gas to beat the covering defence to score a try which he converted himself. From staring at a the prospect of a home defeat of the season, the Chew support were suddenly looking for the bonus-point try. This would have come but for white-line fever affecting players who should have made use of the overlap created outside them or been more patient with the pick and go. Chew complete the first half of their season with a visit to Cirencester on Saturday.

Wells stretch lead at the summit after victory in top-of-the-table clash with Sherborne

December 1, 2013, 9:46 am

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MATCH REPORT: Wells 15 Sherborne 0 Wells stretched their lead at the top of the Southern Counties South table to nine points with victory in their top-of-the-table clash with Sherborne. The hosts only had 20 players available due to injuries and absences, forcing coach Pete Kennedy to make a number of changes to his line-up. George Killen returned at full-back, Jason Atwood made his first start of the season on the right wing, John Branch moved into the centre and number ten Luke Jenkins partnered Jake Knight in the half backs. In the pack, Rich Hickman, now approaching six hundred games for the club, started at tighthead prop with hooker Ash alongside him and Lewis Smith at loosehead. Jamie Payne and Mike Melly continued in the second row and Jake Smith, a centre the previous week, played at blindside flanker. A large crowd had turned out to see if Wells could stretch their winning league run to nine matches and were able to savour a hard, entertaining contest. Wells eased into the lead after seven minutes when Branch kicked a penalty. Sherborne, however were a sharp side and their backs made a number of clean breaks, only to be overwhelmed by Wells' scramble defence. Late in the half a very patient build up by Wells following a break by Jenkins saw the ball worked back and across the field until a gap opened up on the left. Atwood took advantage to score a fine try and give Wells an 8-0 interval lead. The second half was a very tight affair, with Rob Wiseman and Gavin Foster having excellent games in the Wells pack. Defensively, the hosts were superb and one try-saving tackle by George Froud stood out. However, the game was slightly marred by a surfeit of dropped passes, with both sides guilty. Approaching the last quarter of the match, it was still anybody's game and a stroke of genius was needed by one side or the other to beak the deadlock. It came around the 70-minute mark from the likely source of Alex Knight, who suddenly burst through the defence before passing to George Killen, running a lovely angle. The full-back touched down under the posts to leave Branch with an easy conversion. There was no way back for Sherborne, who have now slipped back to third place in the table. Wells reach the halfway mark of the season on Saturday when they travel to Swanage & Wareham (2.15pm). The 2nd XV are at home to Imperial. The club would like to thank Piers Dalby and Judith Smith for sponsoring last Saturday's pre-match lunch. It was attended by 76 members and guests, who enjoyed an excellent meal prepared by Graham Laws.