The ladies of the Mason A side played their second round match this week and once again their opponents were South Hams and they won on both rinks, writes Tony Broughton.

The away team of Jean Mitchell, Marian Vessey, Ann Hillyear and Pearl Hackwood won 17-15 and the home team of Berry Maynard, Dulcie Broughton, Carol Smith and Julie Grant won 33-8.

They became a little unstuck in the second round Foxlands against the Exeter, Isca Club winning on two, but losing on two rinks and losing the match.

In the away meeting Sally Spreadbury, Anne Newman, Carol Smith and Julie Grant lost whilst the other rink of Rosemary Hirons, Margaret Bright, Anne Hillyear and Pearl Hackwood won 17-15. At home Phyllis Milnor, Lynda Dommett, Dulcie Broughton and Joan Heard lost, but Berry Maynard, Rita Barwick, Brenda Harris and Shirley Hiscocks won 24-18. The result saw Honiton bank four points out of a possible ten.

Hopes of the Men’s Over 60’s County Trophy side improving on their first efforts against South Hams were dashed this week when they played a super strong Exonia side and lost on all four rinks.

In fairness the Exonia Club can still boast players like Kevin Phillips a Middleton Cup and Liberty Trophy skip still being picked for these Inter-County Class matches and has now turned 60, and of course the ever young Bill Davis who, at 71, is still considered for these matches as well, for the record he has played bowls since he was 12, I think he is still using the same bowls!

It has been over 25 years since a Honiton bowler has been selected for one of these county matches. The last ones were Arthur Dimond and Tom Richards played in both, Alan Nex played in the Middleton and Colin Mees, who now plays for Exonia Outdoors, but does not play Indoors, played in the Middleton.

Only one friendly match to report in the past week, four mixed rink’s at home against the Donyatt Club resulted in a two rinks losing one drawing and one winning.

The successful rink was Bob Mackintosh, Liz Fielding, Ken Morfey and Mike Critchley (18-16).

The overall result was Honiton 69, Donyatt 86.