Sidmouth ladies continue to do well in their Lane League campaign

Action from the Sidmouth Bowls Club's Friday Triples League. Picture CAROL SMITH (Image: Archant)

Their latest action in the competition saw them taking on Torquay United and they certainly delivered the goods as they banked six of the available 10 points. Indeed, it was very nearly an outstanding eight point haul as one of the Sidmouth teams lost by a margin of a single shot! It does seem there’s a lot of this ‘lost by the smallest margin’ happening to our teams of late!

Back to the action against Torquay United and Sidmouth were successful on two rinks to secure an overall 68-62 victory with the team of Mary Smith, Carol Timms and skip Chris Hamer enjoying a 23-15 home success while the away team of Lorna Lever, Marie Timms and skip Elaine Reed, won their match 19-16.

There was also action last week for the County Foxlands team, who faced an Isca side that won the league last year! This time round the Exeter-based side are again in the running for the top honour, but Sidmouth did very well, winning one of the home rinks and going down by just a single shot on one of the away rinks!

The final score was 81 shots to Isca and 62 to Sidmouth. Our winning team was the one of Karen Hollingdale, Ann Capon, Susie Bonnell and skip Jill Bishop, who won 19-17. Well done, to them.

The away rink, who took their contest into the final end (before which they stood at 15-all) only to be edged out by a single shot, comprised of Jean Brimson, Carol Timms, Mary Turner and skip Chris Hamer. So, it’s a case of well done, to them also.

One sad note to report on, this season has been blighted by a greater than usual dose of illness and injury, which has made it impossible to field regular settled teams. Here’s hoping that the New Year brings better health and injury-free play for many of us!

Typical of the way things are going of late with that aforementioned illness was the fact that Sunday’s mixed meeting with our neighbours – and jolly good friends at Madeira – was almost cancelled, this owing to players dropping out due to illness.

Anyway, after much ado and many alterations, we managed to send three triples instead of the regular three rinks (fours).

Unfortunately, we were rather badly beaten, with the final score of Madeira 56, Sidmouth 36! Amongst all that we did have one rink that managed a terrific 15-all draw and that was the one of Ray Tallent, Mary Turner and skip Anita Mason.