Last Wednesday our ladies played yet another round of the County Lane League, this time against Plymouth, with two teams in action away and two back here in Sidmouth, writes Carol Smith.

The weather was absolutely atrocious for their journey, with the heavy rain causing floods and an accident on the A38.

Nevertheless, they arrived in good time to play and up to the halfway mark were doing pretty well, winning on both away rinks.

Unfortunately, the second half was not so good and at the finish both away rinks lost. (Could it be because, as this is a league, there is no stopping for tea halfway, for that does seem to make a difference to the Sidmouth players!)

However, one of the home teams did win with the successful group being Launa Lever, Jill Ashton, and skip Margaret King, who secured a 19-13 victory. Well done, to them. Sadly, the overall score means Sidmouth only banked two of the 10 available points.

On Friday, we sent three rinks of ladies to play triples against our friends at Madeira bowls club. Not much success here either as we lost 57-43 to Madeira.

There was joy on one rink with Chrissie Leedham, Karen Hollingdale and skip Susie Bonnell winning 18-12.

No names to be mentioned, but one of our skips said she gave so many shots away her team thought she was playing for the opposition!

Anyway, it was a very enjoyable afternoon and we hope to get our revenge when we play them again in a few weeks’ time.

Saturday morning saw another round of the men’s County Interclub, this time against Dawlish - again two rinks home and two away.

It was a very close encounter throughout with neither team more than a few shots ahead at any time.

However, at the finish, Sidmouth lost by just four shots overall with Dawlish the 62-58 winners.

With one home team winning, and one away team successful, it meant four points for Sidmouth, which keeps the team in a mid-table position with five games of the campaign still to be played.

The successful home team was the one of Andrew Lowe, Ian Dudley, Norman Brimson and skip Chris Nappin, while the winning away four were Dutch Holland, Wilf Radburn, John Chew and skip Brian Smith

On Saturday afternoon, a mixed team arrived; this time it was our close neighbours from Honiton.

Once again they thought it was triples and our fixtures said rinks (fours)! I think there must be a lack of communication somewhere along the line.

Anyway, the game was played three against four, but as most of the Honiton bowlers had three bowls against our two (which gives a better advantage), this time we used the format where they are deducted twenty-five per cent of the total score. Hence that made Sidmouth the winners by just two shots thanks to winning on two rinks and sharing the honours on the third.

Finally, good news for a team of Sidmouth men who are through to the zone final of the National Over 60s Fours.

The four are Ken Wheeler, Bill Sheerman, Jim Wherlock and Chris Nappin, who defeated a very formidable four from Madeira 20-16 to book their final berth.

That final has to be played on a neutral green, so watch this space in terms of the when and where! Well done to the four, and good luck in the final.