After the fun and excitement enjoyed at Ottery St Mary Bowls Club President’s Day, the normal timetable of matches consisting of friendlies, internal competitions and regional matches have taken over.

The first visitors Strawberry Lane were Lyme Regis, who returned home having been heavily beaten. As the losing captain often says in circumstances like that ‘the result is immaterial, it’s the game that matters’.

Ottery ladies then started a series of matches where they excelled themselves. The dynamic duo of Gail Hawke and Sharon Kenny won the section match of The County Pairs and they are now through to the last 16 in the County Finals.

This triumph was swiftly followed up by a victory in the Ladies County Triples. Two Ottery Teams were drawn together and the winning trio comprised Marion Kelsey, Sue Cole and Sandra Brockington.

A team was sent away to Chardstock, who always try and play their home matches when the cricket team has an away match, in order to alleviate parking problems. Chardstock welcomed The Ottery team very warmly, which even extended to allowing Ottery to scrape home by one shot. Someone was heard to say: ‘it’s not the result that matters’. In this instance, the top team comprised Dot Luff, Gerry Beighton, Melvin Trayhurn and skip Ryan Seers.

Sometimes the draw in the internal competitions throw up some unusual matches, and such was the case this year, when in the men’s three woods singles tournament, Gerry Beighton was drawn against Ryan Seers. A mere difference of 66 years in ages did not prevent Gerry (with his new bionic bowl assistant) from beating Ryan by a couple of shots on the last end. Ryan was magnanimous in his congratulations to Gerry, wishing him well as he proceeds in this competition.

To repeat the phrase ‘it’s the game that matters’, as can be seen, age is no barrier to the playing of a game. It is also so good to see players who have only taken up the game this year already taking part in friendly matches and not letting their team down. Perhaps someone is saying to themselves ‘I must give this game a go’. Open Club nights are on a Friday from 6pm, and new and established players will be most welcome.