Sidmouth ladies were in Foxlands League action when they took on Plymouth in the fourth game of this season’s competition, writes Carol Smith.

Last season we played well enough to get promoted from the second division up to the first.

This season, the first three games went very well, but this time it was not to be as we were beaten on both home rinks and so banked no points for our Sidmouth effort in the match.

However, there was success for the away teams as one won by eight shots while the other end went down by six shots, but that all added up to a two shot overall success for the Sidmouth rinks!

All that means just two points from the possible 10 were banked – so we must do better next time!

The successful away rink was the one of Karen Hollingdale, Susie Bonnell, Ann Capon and skip Jill Bishop, who won 24-16. Well done, to them.

?Sidmouth bowlers met on Valentine’s Day for a re-arranged fixture at Madeira Bowls Club in Exmouth.

We always enjoy these matches as we have such strong friendships with the opposing players.

On this occasion we travelled hopeful of exacting sweet revenge for the defeat we suffered in the last meeting!

Alas, this did not happen, as we struggled to get enough ladies to play and so ended up with only two triples instead of three.

It was suggested that perhaps the reason for our numbers being reduced was that, with it being Valentine’s Day, our ladies were hoping for better things!

Nevertheless, those that played enjoyed the game and, although beaten, had a good afternoon.

The best performing Sidmouth rink was the one of Mary Bristow, Jean Green and skip Mary Turner, who went down by just three shots at 22-19.

?Friday evening saw the semi-final of the Sidmouth League played.

One of the semi-finals saw two Sidmouth teams go head-to-head while the other last four match was between two Exmouth teams!

The Sidmouth ‘in-house’ meeting was between Matadors and Centurions and it as Matadors who emerged as the winners to the tune of a 17-13 score line.

The other match saw Cowboys defeat the previously unbeaten Beachcombers, which means that Matadors, comprising Bill Sheerman, Chris Nappin, Ken Wheeler and skip Jim Wherlock, will take on Cowboys in what we expect to be a terrific final tussle to be played on April 13.

?Sidmouth men played the final game of their season in the Over-60s County League.

This was a meeting with Mid Devon in which the two away rinks went down by a margin of only nine shots between them.

However, in the match at Sidmouth, the two home rinks were well beaten as the final score was 101-64 in favour of Mid Devon!

Despite this setback, the campaign has not been a bad one for the Sidmouth men for they are guaranteed to now finish in either second – or third – spot.

There are two divisions in this league, based on geographical area, and the top four from each division play in a knock-out format to determine the overall winner.

This all means that our men are still in with a chance! A little bird tells me that one driver (no names mentioned!) took the ‘scenic’ route to Mid Devon, but nevertheless arrived in plenty of time for the game.

?Sidmouth played a Saturday morning Devon Interclub League fixture against Kingsley from North Devon.

Despite some excellent bowling by the home teams - they won by a combined score of plus 22 - the away teams did not fare so well, slipping to a 25 shot overall defeat, which meant a Sidmouth defeat by a margin of just three shots!

The final score was 72-69 in favour of Kingsley.

The best of the Sidmouth rinks was the one of Wilf Radburn, John Chew, Norman Brimson and skip Brian Smith, who secured a superb 28-8 success.

There was also Sunday action for Sidmouth bowlers when they travelled to Dawlish with three mixed rinks.

It proved to be a good afternoon and Sidmouth were ahead on all rinks – until we stopped for tea!

Obviously, stopping for tea this time did us no good as we went on to lose on two rinks, albeit by a margin of just three shots - one each rink!

However, there was a terrific 26-13 win for the rink of Ann Elwood, Chris Radburn, Val Newnham and skip Wilf Radburn and that helped towards what was an overall Sidmouth victory of 55 shots to 48.