For both men and ladies to register wins in competitive matches in the same week is a real achievement for the Budleigh club given their limited resources, but a great effort saw progress in both Triples Leagues, writes David Roberts.

For the ladies, a home overall win in the Over-50s Triples League against Pinces Gardens, saw them make it three wins to date as they fought well to secure a 29-26 success.

Ann Vincent, Joan Cowing and skip Mo Bond dominated to win their rink 20-9 and whilst the rink of Melissa Camp, Hilary Medley and Marilyn Jackson found it more difficult to make an impact and lost out 17-9, they did keep it as tight as possible.

So that is four more points for the ladies as they continue with their impressive form.

A rearranged men’s match in the Over-60s Triples League, away to Belmont, saw a very valuable seven points with a win and a draw on the respective rinks.

Peter Hillman, Gerry Roberts and Andrew Cardy coasted to a 25-9 win whilst Brian Ward, Peter Cooper and skip Paul Griffin couldn’t fight off a spirited comeback from Belmont after a substantial lead early on to draw 14-14.

It could have been an even better week for the team as they entertained Ottery A at home in the Over-60s League but, in a nail-biting finish, they just lost out by one bowl overall, going down 30-29.

Peter Cooper, Andrew Cardy and David Roberts pulled away at the midway point to win convincingly 24-9.

Tony Barnes, Paul Griffin and Brian Goddard had a difficult afternoon being restricted to winning on only five of the 18 ends and it was the opponents’ late push registering nine shots in the final four ends that gave them the overall win to take six points to Budleigh’s two.

These two performances have, however, lifted the team off bottom position and they have the opportunity to further improve with a home match against Exeter St Thomas this week.

In the quarter-finals of the Foxlands Cup, Budleigh men were knocked out 42-29 to a strong Feniton team.

A great performance away from home for the rink of Peter Hillman, Brian Ward, Paul Griffin and a top class contribution from skip Andrew Cardy saw the team just lose out by three bowls and was the highlight of the evening as the home team suffered a ten shot loss.

A mixed friendly match away to Chardstock saw wins on all four rinks for the Budleigh team with a resounding win 87-40.

Ann Vincent, Peter Hillman and Peter Cooper had the best of the wins, 31-12, closely followed by Mike Clark, Bunty Hudson and Brian Summers 22-9.

Derek Stanley, Di Dixon and Gerry Roberts won through 16-7 whilst Hilary Medley, Bill Barber and Mo Bond completed the quartet of wins 18-12.

In another mixed away friendly against Pinces Gardens there was a close encounter with the Budleigh team just losing out by three shots overall, 56-59.

The winning rinks were those of Hilary Medley, Peter Hillman and Ralph Cartwright 15-7 and Ann Vincent, Bill Barber and Joan Shaw 23-14.

However, overall, two good results away from home on consecutive days.

The week ahead sees home friendly matches against Exonia and Exeter St Thomas and an away fixture to Babbacombe.

In the competitions the men play Sidmouth in the County Trophy and the ladies are away to Crediton in the Over-50s Triples.