WORCESTER club St Dunstans hosted a prestigious match with the Bowls England team as part of their centenary season.

The visitors to their Battenhall base consisted of presidents from several counties and an England international player among others.

They proved too strong in the end with a six-shot success but the match was close throughout.

However, against Worcester opposition Grosvenor, St Dunstans recorded a convincing 48-shot win with the best performing triples being led by Geoff Jinks, Roger Butcher and Ted Cullis.

They then had a highly successful tour of the south, winning all four games.

Dave Butcher’s rink starred on the first day with a 39-9 triumph and Maurice Bradley’s group prospered in the second and third games.

Pete Price’s rink stormed home 35-5 on the last game of the tour at Clarence in Weston-super-Mare.

Barbourne won by 36 shots against Tewkesbury with Dave Freeman’s rink scoring two sixes and a four to help the hosts to victory.

Worcester progressed to the National Top Club fourth round when they beat Pershore 5-0 and now meet Chester Road.