There were some hard times for Honiton bowlers in the past week, writes Julie Grant.

In the county Top Club competition, the ladies were in involved in quarter-final action against a Plymouth side that gained revenge over Honiton, whom they had lost to in the final last season.

Honiton had to play two events at Isca as the DCIBA were using the home rinks for their colts’ singles competition and ended up losing the Lacemakers Trophy by three events to two.

The semi-final will be played at Honiton on Sunday, February 25, with Plymouth taking on Sidmouth.

Honiton men were in ICL action and they lost to Kingsley A by 84 shots to 74, winning on one rink, with Alan Fuller, Dennis Hillyear, Gerry Stafrace and Malcolm Seaborne securing a 23-19 success.

Three mixed friendly matches brought no cheer to Honiton bowlers either! The last of the three was the closest with Exonia, as hosts, winning by a margin of just three shots.

Two rinks did win, giving Honiton 54 shots, but Exonia scored 57. The top rink for Honiton was the one of Joan Mackintosh, Malcolm Granger, Richard Bland and Steve Howell, who won 17-13.

Against Newton Abbot, Honiton lost 79-69, but did win on two of the rinks with the same shot difference.

Laraine Carless, Liz Fielding, Di Hawkins and Steve Howell enjoyed a 19-11 success while the rink of Lyndsey Howell, Malcolm Granger, Ted Cox and Janice Sharman won 24-16.

Away at Taunton Deane, the Somerset side’s blue carpet proved too much for Honiton, who slipped to an 86 shots to 55 shots defeat.

However, once again, two Honiton rinks were successful, with Carol Armitage, Richard Bland, Di Hawkins and Steve Howell winning 16-10, and Lyndsey Howell, Jimmy Smith, Margaret Bright and Ken Clarke winning 20-14.