Sidmouth ladies had a Tuesday encounter with great friends, and neighbours, Madeira in a Grace Matthews TopClub competition fixture, writes Carol Smith.

These matches are contested over five disciplines with the winning team needing to enjoy success in three or more to progress to the next round.

Sidmouth ladies were in fine form as they secured success in the pairs, the rinks and the four-wood singles, all with real conviction and in the next round they will meet yet another Madeira team, this time on their own green.

Grace Matthews joined Madeira Bowls Club in 1959 and bowled her last wood at the grand age of 90 before she passed away at the even grander age of 99.

Grace was highly thought of both in her club and the county. She was awarded life membership by her club in 1988 and by the county in 1992.

After our game, Sidmouth as usual were very hospitable, and lovely homemade cakes and tea were served by Pam and Chrissie.

? Sidmouth hosted the Section Three Over-55s Senior Devon County Fours.

Sidmouth had three teams playing in the competition and one of the teams is now through to the section final to be played at Sidmouth this coming Saturday (June 16).

So, well done to Ken Wheeler, Ken Robertson, Mike Borst and skip Chris Nappin.

Sidmouth men played at home to Crediton in the first round of the National TopClub.

This is another knockout competition, and, whereas the ladies have four disciplines, the men have five. (No, I do not know the reason for this!)

The men play two-wood singles, four-wood singles, pairs, triples and rinks (4s).

A superb win for the Sidmouth men means they proceed to play the next round at Madeira (Oh, them again, I hear you say!). Anyway, this really was a brilliant win for our men and good luck to them in the next round.

? Sidmouth ladies drove off to Starcross to play the Devon Interclub second round against Kings BC, Torquay.

We were a little apprehensive as many of Kings’ youngsters play for England and although we hoped to give them a good game, being realistic we couldn’t really expect to win.

When the opposition arrived at Starcross, to our relief, they only had two of their star youngsters with them so we thought we were in with a good chance!

It turned out to be an exciting contest and, after 10 ends, the aggregate scores were level at 14-all.

That became 20-all after 15 ends and this left Sidmouth very much in the game!

However, Kings then moved their game up a gear and, on the 21st and final end, won on both rinks – but only by a few shots.

So, very well done, to Jean Brimson, Jane Painter, Lynda Dommett and skip Valerie Newnham, who were edged out by just two shots at 15-13 and also to Karen Hollingdale, Susie Bonnell, Zena Johnson and skip Jill Bishop, who went down narrowly by four shots at 18-14.

Sadly, we are now out of this knockout competition – but there is always next year!

? Sidmouth men were edged out in their second Devon County Trophy League match against Seaton.

This competition sees two teams in home and away action. Both clubs won two of the four rinks, but overall it was Seaton who took the honours by a margin of some nine shots.

Sidmouth do bank four points for their efforts.

Sidmouth men were also in action at Chardstock in a Topclub second round tie.

Chris Nappin got the team off to a good start by winning the two-wood.

However, this was to be the sole visiting success across the five disciplines as Sidmouth never got to grips with what was a very heavy green.

On Friday evening, both Kens, Robertson and Wheeler, travelled to Ottery St Mary to play the Section Three A Greater Pairs final against a very strong pairing from Madeira.

It proved to be a close encounter, but Madeira were once again the victors, albeit by a margin of just four shots. Bad luck to our Kens, but well done, for getting to the final.