Brian Edwards, Bowls Devon’s Men’s President, brought a side made up from clubs throughout Devon to play against Honiton, last Tuesday.

The weather was not too bad, so the full 21 ends were played in great spirit.

The ladies prepared a super tea and, although Honiton lost the match by just five shots, it was an immensely enjoyable afternoon. The top winning rink was Alan Fuller, Ken Morfey, Mike Dart and Paul Crockett at 27-11.

On Wednesday, the over-60s ‘A’ side was at home to Bradninch and again won both rinks and the match by 13 shots.

This gives them another valuable eight points.

The ‘B’ side suffered their usual demise, drawing one rink and losing the other by just five shots, away at Marina. So only one point for them. It will require a miracle to keep them in Division 3 now.

The ‘C’ side seem to have lost the way a little. This week winning on one, losing the other and the match, so only two points. They also will need some considerable luck to finish in the top two and go up a division.

On Thursday the Ladies took three triples to Madeira, losing the match by 10 shots. One trio drew, one lost but Jenny Wilde, Berry Maynard and Rita Barwick won by 17-13.

Friday’s Two Counties match against Cullompton was a better result. Honiton won two rinks, drew one and lost one, winning the match by six shots. This gave us 8.5 points.

The ladies have been very busy this week, with some excellent results all around.

Playing at Sidmouth, Rita Barwick, Dulcie Broughton and Shirley Hiscocks beat Madeira’s Janet Allen, Pat Cain and Sandy Cox in the group semi-final of the County Benevolent Triples. Honiton were 14-8 down at 11 ends, but the tide changed and Madeira did not score again, Honiton winning 21-14.

In the other semi, the Madeira trio of Jan Roberts, Pat Harris and Catherine King beat Seaton’s Barbara Harden, Angie Mayhew and Joan Miles by 19-12.

The afternoon final was very tight up to eight ends when Madeira scored one to go 6-5 up. Then, once again, the tide changed and Honiton won the following nine ends, Madeira conceding at 20-6 on the seventeenth end.

At Budleigh, Honiton’s second trio of Hannah Morfey, Joan Heard and Sue Evans came up against the formidable Madeira trio of Macaulay, Smerdon and Harriott in that final. With two ends to play, they were six shots down, but a five and a single forced the extra end, which Honiton won. Honiton had only two teams in this competition and both go through to the County Finals Days.

Another good result was Dulcie Broughton and Shirley Hiscocks beating Madeira’s Annette Flockhart and May Dyson in the Over-55 County Pairs.

Only sad note was Rita Barwick and Brenda Harris losing to Madeira’s Eileen Bagley and Kate Andrews in the Group Final of the Over-70s Pairs.

On Saturday, the ladies invited teams from Sidmouth, Seaton, Lyme Regis, Ottery St Mary, Budleigh and Bridport to play against them in the Invitation Triples. Lyme Regis came out the winning trio with Honiton’s Sheila Tillier, Berry Maynard and Shirley Hiscocks runners-up.

Finally, on Sunday, the Dorset Bowling Association brought six triples to play Honiton. The home side only managed to win two of the six and lost the match 93-103. The top trio was Maureen Willcocks, Keith Parsons and Eddie Sharman with 26 – 17.