Three of the four matches last week were ladies' games and I think we ought to start with the Lane Trophy against North Devon. It was certainly a game of two halves and Madeira ended up in the best half, writes Ron Stares.

Three of the four matches last week were ladies' games and I think we ought to start with the Lane Trophy against North Devon. It was certainly a game of two halves and Madeira ended up in the best half, writes Ron Stares.At the five-end mark the visitors were six shots up and they increased it to 14 shots by the tenth. Here was where things started to turn around.By 15 ends both home rinks and one away were showing in Madeira's favour with the combined score at 54-50 to North Devon.Then the home side came into their own. On the run-in to the final ends, Madeira scored 27 shots whilst the visitors could only manage 11. Madeira triumphed in an exciting game 77-65, winning two rinks and losing two. The rink skipped by Josie Hall, supported by Nicola Fiddimore Mavis Mears and Anne Doidge, managed a three on the last end to give them the highest win, by nine shotsThe other game was a mixed match against Mid-Devon. In this fixture, Madeira set the pace and never lost the lead that they set up in the first five ends.At this time they were 13 shots up. Whilst the visitors reduced this by two shots by 10 ends, the third part of the game was all square, so Madeira were still 12 shots up. By the end Mid-Devon had reduced the difference by a shot, but this meant Madeira had hung on to the lead and won 60-51. The main part of the victory was to the credit of Terry Escott, Mavis Mears, Tom Russell and skip Pat Cain, who won by 15 shots.The next game was away against Dawlish. The home side were a shot ahead by five ends and stayed in front for the rest of the game.By 10 ends Dawlish had increased their lead to five shots and by 15 the difference was seven. Over the last ends Madeira scored five shots but Dawlish got 16 and so took the game 55-51. Madeira only won one rink, that skipped by Jacky Howle and including Jill Perrin, May Dyson and Cain.The last game of the week was another ladies' match, against local rivals Budleigh Salterton.Budleigh brought a three-rink team with them. As one would expect, it was a see-saw game. Budleigh were ahead at five ends by two shots but by 10 Madeira had the advantage by a shot. After 15 ends Madeira had increased the lead to four shots. Over the last ends, Budleigh scored 18 shots whilst Madeira could only manage seven and so the game went to the visitors 57-50.Madeira's one winning rink was skipped by Sheila Webb, who was supported by Dorothy Russell, May Dyson and Jean Healey. They won by five shots.