Stoke Fleming Bowling Club

Last Saturday saw Stoke Fleming Bowling Club take on Abbrook Park from Kingsteignton in their latest Mid Devon League match.

Having won quite comprehensively away earlier in the season, they were looking for a similar result this time at home, but things did not start too well as the visitors settled quickly and, after the first five ends, they were collectively some five shots ahead – and that was despite an excellent start from Mike Hyne’s rink, which had only dropped a single shot at that stage.

By tea, however, things were looking a little better, as now three of the four rinks were ahead; only Paul Lobb’s rink seemed to be struggling, being some six shots adrift.

I am not sure what they put in the tea at that stage, but whatever it was it certainly did the trick as the rink suddenly found both their line and length and never looked back, winning 10 of the last 11 ends to amass a 22-1 shot difference over those final ends.

After a slow start, Joel Jordan’s rink gradually began to pull things back, and by

the halfway stage they had ­managed to ease out to lead by two. Things didn’t get much easier during the run-in, but they were always just too good for their opposition, and in the end it was a comfortable seven-shot victory.

Building on their fine start, Mike Hyne and his entire rink never let up and simply outbowled their opponents, restricting them to a single shot on just five of the 21 ends.

Once again, after a slow start, Simon Bennett’s rink seemed to turn an early deficit into what looked to be a comfortable win – nine shots up with only four ends to play. However, things got a little tight as they conceded eight shots in the next three ends to take only a single-shot lead into the end. Thankfully it was enough as they took a count of three to win by four.

Rink 1: Bernie Boyce, Adrian Hayward, Mark Jordan and skip Paul Lobb won 26-11.

Rink 2: Tony Dore, Les English, Arthur Wotton and skip Simon Bennett won 27-23.

Rink 3: John Haynes, Pip Cocks, Luke Bryant and skip Joel Jordan won 20-13.

Rink 4: Mike Faulkner, Alan Mallyon, Andy Pound and skip Mike Hyne won 28-5.

So, an overall win for the Villagers of 101-52 and a full house 14 points to add to their tally.

With no match next week, their next game is on Saturday, July 28, again at home, but this time to Shaldon, when the Villagers will be looking to ­consolidate their position in the league with another fine win.