AFTER the festive season the South Hams Indoor Bowling Club started the second half of the season with an interclub match with Sidmouth on Saturday, January 5, two rinks at home, two rinks away.

At home, rink A with John Sims, Simon Shaw, Mike Mitchelmore and skip Barry Geldard had a good win by 18 shots to 13. Rink B with David Fox John Glenny, Ron Elson and skip Richard Kerswell trailed most of the time to lose by 12 shots to 25.

At Sidmouth, rink A with Roland Swinden, Tony Dore, John Harding and skip Ron Welham went down by 17 shots to 22. Rink B consisting of Wilf Hutchens, John Hall, Cris Adams and skip John Fowler just kept their noses in front to win by 20 shots to 19. Overall the match was lost by 67 shots to 79, with the Hams picking up just four league points.

On Thursday, January 10, the ladies met North Devon in the Foxlands League. This was again played in the two rinks at home and two away format.

At home, rink A with Pam Kink, Anita Elliot, Diane Smith and skip Pat Janes started well, six shots to four up at five endings.

Winning the next five ends the Hams powered ahead to lead 16 shots to four. The next five ends saw North Devon pick up 0 shots to the Hams' four. The last five ends saw the Hams retain control to win a well contested match by 26 shots to 19.

Rink B with Sylvia Williams, Val Harding, Pat Ramsay and skip Fran Ryan started slowly, two shots to seven down at five ends. Improving on the next seven ends, 12 shots were amassed to one against, keeping their game together to win by 21 shots to 18.

At North Devon, rink A with Rachel Brothers, Mele Dore, Maureen Bartley and skip Brenda Welham experienced a high-scoring opening, nine shots to seven up at five ends. Five ends were then shared, thus it was 18 shots all at 15 ends. The Hams kept it together to triumph by 23 shots to 21.

Rink B with Jane Foster, Shirley O'Leary, Maureen Geatches and skip Lesley Crutchley found the weight of carpet difficult to adjust to. Behind three shots to five at five ends, they moved in front at 10 ends - 12 shots to eight.

However, of the 18 ends, the Hams had no bowls in the head to drop a count of eight, finally losing by 17 shots to 24.

Overall this was a good result, winning by 87 shots to 82 and picking up eight valuable league points.

On Sunday, January 13, Dartmouth were the visitors in a mixed friendly.

Rink one with Val Harding, Betty Burgess-Allen, Anita Elliot and skip John Sherrard trailed early on bu,t scoring consistently over the closing ends, just lost by 13 shots to 14. Rink two with Sylvia Williams, Betty Lowe, Tony hammett and skip Eric Williams trailed all the way in a closely contested encounter to lose by 14 shots to 16.

Rink three with Wilf Hutchens, Don Havis, Maureen Bartley and skip John Harding dropped shots on the first four ends but then took total control to win by 36 shots to seven.

Rink four with Trevor Edwards, David Dain, Tim Lewis and skip Val Statters started slowly, six shots to eight down at 10 ends, then, getting their act together, ran out the inners by 17 shots to 10. Overall this was a good win for the Hams by 80 shots to 47.