TAUNTON Deane lifted the prestigious Trevor Cup for the first time since 1998 after a two-leg victory over local rivals Taunton.

Holding a 16-shot advantage after the first leg at Taunton, Deane could not relax and the visitors threw everything at them during the early stages of the second leg at Blackbrook.

The Deane rink of Richard Beer, Rick Farley, John Tucker and John Bament fought back to lose by nine shots after dropping 16 shots in three ends early on against Stan Hedger and his rink.

Mike Beale was defeated by 9 shots by James Amery but a solid performance by Eric Kelloway, Les Hall, Bill Flannigan and Ricky Selway to defeat Don Ormeshaw and his rink left the second leg in the balance.

A brilliant display by Clive Gilbert, Bill Robinson, Clive Selway and Derek Burch swung the match Deane's favour. They played beautifully to defeat the experienced Dave Young by 12 shots giving the Deane a second leg victory of two shots increasing their advantage to 18 shots.

This is the first time the Deane has won the Cup since 1998 when Gerald Geyton led the Deane to victory.

Deane manager Ricky Selway said: "It was a superb all-round performance and has shown how far our men's section has improved competitively over the last 18 months.

"We have started to win trophies, leagues and cups largely down to having a more competitive attitude and a team spirit that inspires us all to play for each other."

Result (Deane rinks first): E. Kelloway, L. Hall, W. Flannigan and R. Selway 23, S. Coley, G. Warburton, M. Carrow and D. Ormeshaw 16; R. Beer, R. Farley, J. Tucker and J. Bament 21, M. Zussman, B. Underwood, J. Keegans and S. Hedger 30; C. Gilbert, W. Robinson, C. Selway and D. Burch 23, B. Reeves, D. Buckingham, B. Southward and D. Young 11; G. Searle, C. Takle, P. Jenkins and M. Beale 16, H. Scragg, A. Wood, P. Shaw and J. Amery 24.