Monday evening saw a 6pm start for a re-arranged Grace Matthews competition meeting with Madeira (the previous date had been cancelled due to dreadful weather), writes Susie Bonnell.

Sidmouth Herald: Sidmouth bowlers in home actionSidmouth bowlers in home action (Image: Archant)

Fortunately, the rain had mostly blown over, leaving the bowlers with a breezy but more or less sunny evening.

Sadly, Sidmouth ladies did not win enough of the five disciplines to secure a place in the next round so will have to wait another year to try again.

With a late finish and the wind picking up in gusts along with some showers, everyone was glad to get home and warm up!

Undaunted by the previous evening’s defeat, two ladies’ rinks travelled from Sidmouth on Wednesday to Crediton to play in the second round of another major competition - the Interclub - against North Devon-based Bradworthy.

Sidmouth got off to a good start - particularly with one rink picking up a six on the third end.

However, in a big turnaround, Bradworthy ladies had moved into a three shot lead on the 19th end.

On the 20th end, one of the Sidmouth teams picked up a three and the other a two.

This all meant that, going into the final end, there was all to play for. In what proved to be a nail-biting deciding end, both Sidmouth skips came in for shot, clinching a Sidmouth win on both rinks - the final score resulting in a 47-42 overall success for Sidmouth and with it, a place in the third round.

Let nobody think Bowls is a game for the faint-hearted! It helped that a pub lunch was in the offing for the return journey home - with good cause to celebrate - plus it didn’t rain.