As the competitive outdoor season draws to a close, two visiting sides came to Cricket Field Lane last week and whilst enjoying great hospitality from the Budleigh bowlers also walked away with the spoils.

First up was Bradninch, played over four triple rinks and whilst both teams won two rinks apiece there was an overall win for the visitors 83-66. Ann Vincent, Graham Rant and skip Peter Foreman were well in control throughout their match and fought off a late comeback to win 20-16.

Marilyn Foreman, Jackey Phillips and Norman Upchurch played well together and similarly held off a late rally to take the rink 19-16. Derek Stanley, Hilary Medley and Brian Goddard looked favourites for their match but conceded ten shots over the last four ends to lose out 18-23, whilst Gwen Hurst, Tony Mackness and Penny Weeks came up against a side in form and could not make any inroads and were soundly beaten 9-28.

Next up was the Oxford Town and Gown Touring team and it was the visitors who enjoyed the better of the play with an overall 81-110 win. There were some close matches. Robin Grenyer, Ann Vincent, Ralph Cartwright and Andy Cardy had a great win 25-15 but all the other home rinks were found wanting.

Brian Ward, Anne Clarke, Penny Weeks and skip Peter Foreman were always in the match but just missed out 11-14, whilst Tony Lim, Jackey Phillips, Andy Skudder and Brian Goddard all level at the tea break went dowel 13-18.

Paul Griffin, Tony Mackness, Hilary Medley and Bryan Membery lost out 14-19. Gwen Hurst, Peter Cooper, Bob Gooch and skip Mo Bond recovered from a slow start, had a mid-match rally but lost 12-22. Marilyn Foreman, Mary Grove, Graham Rant and David Roberts were well beaten 23-6.

A big thank you to Joan Shaw, Bobbie Vanstone, Mo Bond, Tony Gooding, Paul Griffin, Brian Ward and Ralph Cartwright for all their help in making the afternoon so successful.

In the Internal competitions, Gwen Hurst overcame Marilyn Foreman 23-18 and booked her place in the final of the four woods championship.

Peter Evans played well against Andy Skudder, winning 21-12 to reach the Novice final whilst Brian Ward was on top form to reach the two wood final beating Peter Cooper 17-9. Brian Ward and Brian Goddard made a slow start against Ralph Cartwright and David Roberts in the Mens’ Pairs finding themselves 12-1 down after seven ends but then went on to have a convincing win 27-16 to reach the semi-final.