Things are looking up at Cricket Field Lane, the home of Budleigh Salterton Bowls Club, as the ladies, taking part in the Over-50s Exeter and District Triples League, recorded their second win of the season, writes David Roberts.

In addition, the club is improving in its competitive matches and whilst overall wins are still hard to come by, you sense that there is a good team spirit and new members representing the club are playing an important role in the progress being made.

The ladies were home to Okehampton and it was the rink of Ann Vincent, Hilary Medley and skip Mo Bond who inflicted the damage on the visitors with a dominant 26-7 win.

Melissa Camp, Joan Cowing and Bobbie Vanstone lost out 10-22, but an overall win 36-29 secured another four important points.

The men were in action in the County trophy against Feniton, and, whilst there was an overall loss 67-81, it was a much-improved performance with the pick of the rinks playing away from home and recording a resounding win.

Brian Ward, Graham Rant, Peter Hillman and Andrew Cardy mastered the fast green playing well together to win through 22-9.

The best of the home rinks was that of Derek Stanley, Peter Foreman, Bryan Membery and Brian Goddard, who recovered from a twelve shot deficit early on to stage a great comeback losing out by only four shots.

In a men’s friendly triples match against Madeira the Budleigh men won on three of the four rinks only to lose lost out by two shots 60-62.

Derek Stanley, Peter Hillman and Brian Goddard fought back to win 20-15, whilst Graham Rant, Ralph Cartwright and David Roberts contested a close match to dig deep and win 19-16.

Great performances from Graham and Ralph were crucial to the win. Tony Lim, Brian Ward and Paul Griffin won through 13-12 in a low scoring match to make it a very upbeat afternoon for the Budleigh men as they came very close to recording an unexpected win.

The social bowling event of the week was the visit of our Welsh friends Gelligaer Bowling Club on an afternoon when the sun shone and everyone enjoyed the afternoon. Touring teams from Wales are always very welcome and important to the club and as ever the Budleigh rinks came up against bowlers with a passion for the game and lost out 90 shots to 102. Best of the Budleigh rinks saw impressive wins for Marion Lacey, Bunty Hudson, Brian Ward and Brian Goddard 26-10 with Ann Goddard, Penny Weeks, Peter Hillman and Paul Griffin playing well together to win 23-15.

A busy week ahead with two matches for the men in the Exeter and District Over-60s triples league against Belmont and Ottery. The club plays Pinces Gardens twice in a week, once in the ladies’ Over-50s league and also in a mixed friendly.

There is a visit to Chardstock in a friendly and the men meet Feniton in the next round of the Foxlands Cup.