The past week was a quiet one at Cricket Field Lane, but a trip to Mid Devon for the Budleigh Ladies saw an impressive win away from home that was followed by a well-deserved club win against the Budleigh men, writes David Roberts.

The Mid Devon match was a very close affair and saw the rinks shared.

In the foursome, Ann Vincent, Hilary Medley, Lilian Grainger and skip Mo Bond recovered from a slow start to draw level at seven shots each at the halfway stage, but then found it difficult to take the initiative and the home bowlers took control to run out 20-10 winners.

However, it was a different story in the triple as Margaret Avery, Celia Mangeng and Di Dixon mastered the fast rink and shot out of the blocks to take an early lead.

At the halfway stage they were well in control at 13-6 and went from strength to strength going on to consolidate their position to take the rink 24-10.

This strong display won the match overall at 34-30 and made the trip back down the motorway much more enjoyable.

The ladies were again in the ascendancy as they took on the gentlemen of the club in another winter friendly, and whilst this is always an enjoyable affair it is taken seriously as the winners can walk tall!

Ann Vincent, Joan Cowing, Di Dixon and Mo Bond were totally dominant as they took the men to task with an impressive 25-10 win restricting their opposition - Tony Lim, Tony Hanson, Mike Shaw and Peter Burch - to scoring on only six of the 21 ends!

On the other rink the men of Derek Stanley, Rob Jerrard, Brian Evans and skip Gerry Roberts put up a stronger display and going into the last two ends held the lead by one shot, but a spirited finish by Margaret Avery, Hilary Medley, Lilian Grainger and skip Joan Shaw saw them pick up two shots to win 20-19. So, an overall win then by some 16 shots for the Budleigh ladies.

This current week promises to be a busier one with the ladies in action against Axminster, the men take on Sidmouth and there are mixed friendly meetings with Honiton and Dawlish.