Ladies’ call to arms!

THE first match of last week, against a mixed team from Mid Devon, saw an extraordinary turn of fortune.

The Sidmouth winning rink struggled to 13-1 down after 11 ends and then allowed the opposition only two more shots running out winners by 22-15. Frank Adlam, Mary Bristow, Cliff Hewett and skip Ron Cook certainly benefited from the tea break on this occasion! Overall score was 60-45 in favour of Sidmouth.

The next match, played at Honiton, proved more difficult with Honiton winning 125-44. Best rink for Sidmouth was Ray Tallent, Jan Turner, Sylvia Cook and skip Peter Mison, just losing out by two shots against them on the last end.

The Denny Cup first round match proved a bridge too far both at home and away. The playing squads from Torquay United, as we expected, were some of the top bowlers in the county led by Sam Tolchard, having just returned from representing England in the singles at the Commonwealth Games.

Other notable players were John Evans, Craig Down, Loren Robert, Gryff Saunders Jamie Webber, Josh Hadfield, and Joe Melmore whose sister Natalie won the Commonwealth Gold medal in India. Losing first round teams proceed to the Denny Plate, played early in November.

?News from India is that there will be a new set of laws for outdoor flat green bowling coming into force next April. The two most important changes are that, as for indoor bowling, the mat can only be given away on the toss of a coin at the start of the game or at the start of the extra end in the event of a tie.

In all pairs, triples and fours matches the skip will be responsible for marking the card.

?The ladies section of the bowls club is lucky in that there has been a large influx of new members who are both keen and have the potential to do well. It is to be hoped that with help and practice the standard of play will improve greatly in the future.

So far, this season has not been very successful. The ladies had a narrow win over the gentlemen thanks mainly to Iris Rogers Pat Harvie, Beryl Sparkes and Eileen Stribling winning their match 19-5

Since then in friendly matches the ladies have lost to both Madeira and Axminster. They were privileged to entertain the DCLIBA which resulted in a very enjoyable morning, topped by exceptional refreshments.

Pat Harvie, Dreda Taylor, Evelyn Clements and Eileen Hewett are to be congratulated on only losing on the last end 19 -20

The excursion into the Mason’s National League resulted in losses against Torbay and Honiton. Both these clubs are very strong and we were unlucky to draw them in the first round. Come on ladies, we can do better !