March has been a very busy month at Sidmouth Bowls Club with a total of nine friendly men and mixed matches accounted for and the Captains Day event, writes Ron Cook.

First up was a match against Madeira, one that was reduced to triples. This format, favoured by many players, always produces a good game.

Sidmouth, thanks to a terrific 27-6 success for David Fairclough (skip), John Chew and Ed Backhouse, were the overall winners by a score of 52 shots to46.

Next up was a meeting with Dunkeswell and, in this game, the rink to shine was the one Wilf Radburn (skip), Liz Boyle, Chris Radburn and Mike Reader as they recorded a thumping 34-6 success to help see the team to an overall 67 shots to 24 win. Wilf is showing signs of being a formidable skip and long may it continue.

The next outing was a meeting with Topsham who made their second visit to Sidmouth for a contest that the home side won by four shots at 57-53.

On this occasion it was the turn of Bert Hague and his team of Sheila Graham, Sylvia Cook , Jim Brown to make the difference, recording a superb 25-7 victory.

A visit to Mid Devon proved a challenge for the Sidmouth bowlers. The fast greens at Tiverton proved a tad too tough and the home side ran out 53-43 winners.

That was followed by a home game against Ottery St Mary. In this match all three rinks served up healthy scores to help min an overall 68-45 success.

Once again Wilf Radburn was at the forefront of things. Keeping it a family affair, supported by Chris with Derek Mountford and Jean Green, the four won 25-23. The best rink was the one of was Dave Lever, Wendy Cox, Mick Cox and skip Karen Hollingdale who won 25-15.

The annual visit to Sidmouth of the Vice Presidents Association was a formal affair, played out in whites and including teams from South Hams, Honiton and ISCA.

Sidmouth were again in good form, winning by two rinks to one and an overall score of 67 59.

Honours on this occasion went to Dave Lever, Steve Boyle, Bob Daniels and skip Ron Cook, 38-11, in their meeting with the South Hams visitors.

The Captains Day meeting saw 30 players turn out for what were two sessions and a joint tea.

Prizes went to Brian Barber, Brian Godbeer, Roger Stewart, Brian Smith for the first session and Brian Newell, Derek Limpus, Ray Tallent, John Mason for the later session.

Last weekend we played two mixed matches against Madera and Bovey Tracey. Once again it seems a family affair is a good combination! Wilf Radburn, ably supported by Chris Radburn, Jim Brown and Wendy Cox, were the top rink playing Bovey with a score of 27-10.

Meanwhil, Ron Cook with Sylvia Cook, Janice Quinn and Bob Daniels dominated their Madeira opposition to return a 32-9 score and help towards another comfortable Sidmouth win of 79 shots to 33.

The county season closed with two Interclub matches against ISCA Silver and Budleigh Salterton.

In the ISCA match, John Mason skipped his team Tony Brown, Wilf Radburn and Bill Sheerman to a 22-20 success.

However, in the Budleigh match, Sidmouth could only salvage a point from a drawn rink. This made for a disappointing end to a difficult season.