MARINA ladies have been very busy in bowls competitions of late. They took part in the Grace Matthew’s Cup which saw them travel to Chudleigh for the first round of the competition on what was a very hot day. Marina came out on top, winning on four of the five rinks. They won on the Rinks 28-13, Triples 17-13, four wood singles 21-20 and two wood singles 21-13.

Marina also competed in the Inter Club on May 15 against Bideford, played on neutral ground at Tiverton and won on both rinks- Honiton awaits on June 5.

On Sunday 19, a Marina trio of Sue Owen, Helen Wilson and Debs Kettley competed in the first round of the Devon County unbadged triples against a very strong team from Abbrook Park. It was a tense match, Marina being ahead by one or two points and Abbrook catching up throughout the match. It was so tense that spectators who planned to go home at mid-day stayed until the end!

After 18 ends it was 15-15 resulting in a tie-break end. It looked like Abbrook were going to take it, holding two shots with Sue Owen from Marina having the final bowl to play. Captain Sue played an amazing shot managing to take the final point. Marina went through to play on neutral ground on Saturday 25, beating one Bitton Park team before narrowly losing out to the other.

Talking of Abbrook and they have been an equally busy club so far in May.

After slow starts for both over 55s teams, they took 8 points apiece against the aforementioned Marina, Newton Abbot, Bitton and Chudleigh in week two and three. The SDL1 and SDL5 ladies also got off to successful starts, beating Torbay Country Club plus the former also overcame Brixham by nine points to one on Friday 10.

Men’s captain Rob Horrall took a team to Dawlish Lawn the following day and won convincingly with the hosts winning their solitary point in the final rink. Abbrook will face either Shaldon or Starcross in the next round of that one.

Winning is the theme here with a MDL3 match against Paignton B-Team also going the way of Abbrook. In the last 10 ends, they were able to earn something bringing room after a very even fixture leading up until tea.

The SDL5 B-Team were at home against Marldon on May 20 and they won all three rinks in the sunshine. Back to the men’s side of things and the A-Team kicked off their arrival in the Mid Devon Bowls Premier League with a home victory against Paignton.

Finally, Abbrook’s own Anne Russell has been selected to represent Devon as part of their John’s Trophy team for a fourth successive year which is very impressive indeed.