Madeira bowlers played a home mixed match against Plymouth Civil Service, a combination team from various outdoor Plymouth clubs, writes Jean Healey.

Vic Doidge, with Janet Allen, Rob Prescott, Jean Healey won 26-11, helped by a five on the penultimate end.

Overall, Madeira won 2-1 on rinks and scored 56 shots to 45. On Sunday, four mixed triples went away to Torbay, winning on three rinks with an overall score of 76 shots to 63.

All rinks were losing up to nine ends, but gradually pulled up enough to creep ahead. Penny Preece with Janet Grundy and Mike Holmes had the best shot difference of seven.

The next day, fortunes changed again and the home match against Bovey Tracey resulted in losses on all three rinks with none getting past the ‘unlucky’ 13.

The next friendly ladies’ triples team travelled away to Isca Exeter which resulted in a win on two rinks, but an overall loss.

Lin Halpin’s team hung on to win by one, and Jean Healey, Sue Lampey, Ann Doidge had a steady game to win by six.

In the next friendly against Mid Devon from Tiverton, 18 ends were played and it ended with Madeira on the wrong end of a 47-34 score line.

Chris Price’s rink and Bob Finch’s teams had very close games, but the last few ends were taken from them.

In the final mixed triples friendly against North Tawton Keith Weeks, with Susie Roughton, and Keith Prew were the only winning rink.

There followed five days of competitive representative matches, first the Lane League and two ladies’ triples travelled to a cold North Devon club in Barnstaple, which had to combine with two home teams scores.

No points this time although Jean Rainton’s team almost won, but lost five on the penultimate end!

In the Foxlands, two ladies rinks travelled to Plymouth, but gained no points, whilst the two home rinks managed to win with comparable scores.

Well done, Janine Orchard and Joy Penberthy with their teams bringing in four points.

Knockout competitions followed with the National Masons Over-60s double rinks for ladies resulting in two wins at home against South Hams and Mid Devon (with a fine last bowl from Sue Harriott giving a win by one), but not enough margins to compensate for losses on away rinks.

However, in the Yetton Trophy Newquay ladies were knocked out by a fine difference 84-66, as Madeira had three winning rinks, and one only missing victory by one shot.

Well done, and so onto the next round which sees Madeira taking on Torquay United. For the men’s County Trophy, two Madeira rinks travelled to South Hams, and two rinks played at home for an overall loss of 78 shots to 65.

Madeira had one winning rink and two rinks with very close results, but unfortunately one rink lost heavily.

An exciting Top Club men’s competition against Honiton resulted in a win, helped by Rob Walker winning the two-wood singles, and Mike Gorman winning the four-wood singles, and a final determining win by Mike Orchard’s team Andy Lock, Jim Bradford, Ken Roberts, clinching the 3-2 overall success.

Finally, in the first round of the national pairs competition, Jan Roberts and Catherine King beat a Mid-Devon pair and Jan Roberts, Catherine King, Janine Orchard won their County Triples first round tie against Honiton, beating them 15-12 in what was a mighty close contest that could have gone either way.