Sidmouth ladies travelled to Isca Bowls Club in Exeter to play the Devon area final of the National Triples, writes Carol Smith.

Sidmouth went into the contest under no illusions as to the toughness of their task with the opposition being three excellent young players from the Torquay United club.

However, the Sidmouth trio, who certainly had the benefit of experience and the youthful exuberance of the opposition, gave as good as they got before being edged out. Torquay United deserved their win – they played superbly, which, given that two of their number are also England internationals, is no great surprise! It is worth adding that the combined age of the Sidmouth trio was 228 years while the Torquay ‘accumulative age’ was below 75 and so, on this occasion, youth did win over experience! It was a marvellous run that the Sidmouth ladies – Jane, Eileen and skip Carol (not forgetting also the contribution in the earlier part of the competition from Jean before she suffered a broken leg and had to give up her place in the team) – had in this season’s competition and they claimed some major scalps on their way to the Devon area final. Well done to the four ladies.