BOWLS:FOLLOWING their huge success in the Yetton Trophy campaign, Five Rivers Indoor Bowls Club's ladies have embarked on defending their Riversmeet league title.

Two more matches have been played since they won their first game.

The two teams, comprising a blend of their Vivienne and Yetton teams, have seen a narrow defeat by just two shots to Palmerston form Fareham, followed by a 43 shot success against Victory of Portsmouth where the rink skipped by Sue Frost won by an amazing 39 shot margin.

Meanwhile, the club's men were extremely disappointed to lose their first round Wessex League play off against North Wilts - a side they had beaten last season when they were in the same section.

Five Rivers got off to a poor start and found themselves 22 shots to 12 down after only five ends.

They gradually clawed their way back into contention and were only four shots down at one stage.

However, they eventually failed in their bid to reach the quarter finals by a seven shot margin.

They had one winning rink, skipped by Ron Oakes, but met with some great shot-saving play away from home, particularly to Keith Hutchens as Mickey Crook's rink found to their cost.