There has been some great news for the Sidmouth ladies’ Over-50s League Blue team, writes Carol Smith.

Now that the final results of the 2018 season are in, the team has been declared as runner-up behind first placed Crediton Green.

Adding to the ‘feel good’ factor for the Over-50s League teams, our Yellow team finished a credible fifth and so both teams will once again play in the top division in 2019. Well done, to both teams.

The past week saw the Sidmouth ladies entertain our very good friends from Budleigh and our men also played the same opposition, but in their case they travelled across to Cricket Field Lane.

The ladies played a three rink triples match on another lovely sunny afternoon (how long can this weather last?).

I don’t think we have worn waterproofs more than once or twice this season, which is really good for a change!

It was an excellent game played in a great sprit and we won on one rink, drew on the second and lost on the third. Thanks to the efforts of our winning rink, the one of Mary Bristow, Anita Mason and Ann Capon, who won 23-9, we managed to secure an overall 53-42 win.

The Sidmouth men did equally well playing away on a tricky green. Captain Mike took four rinks of triples and they managed to win 74-59 with the top rink, the one of Ray Tallent, Chris Nappin and captain Mike, winning 25-8. Evidently it was a great afternoon with good weather and, most important, good company.

On Thursday, Sidmouth men played against a very strong all-men touring team, Leicester City. The visitors arrived probably expecting to win as they had had excellent results from the other East Devon clubs they had played against. However, it was not to be – for them – as the final score after the six rinks had been completed was Sidmouth 119, Leicester City 105.

I understand it was a great afternoon with good bowling and lots of friendly banter and, after they left, the bar was pretty depleted of stock!

On the day, the top Sidmouth rink was the one of Ray Tallent, Peter Bates, John Chew and skip, captain Mike Borst, 27-9.