This week, Sidmouth men played their first round of the Devon TopClub - writes Carol Smith.

This was against South Hams and is played with 5 disciplines: 2 wood singles, 4 wood singles, pairs, triples, and rinks.

Being a knockout competition, you need to win on 3 of the 5 disciplines to proceed to the next round.

Sidmouth, being the challengers, played three of the five disciplines at home and the other two away.

You cannot choose which discipline goes where; that is set in concrete, with the triples and 4 wood singles playing away.

Both Sidmouth and South Hams players left home at 8 am to wind their way through the wind and rain of Storm Bert.

It was well worth it as Sidmouth won 4 of the disciplines and only lost the 5th on the final end.

Our home player in the 2 wood singles, Tony Broughton, had a great game after playing 27 ends to win 21 - 17.

The pairs of John Richards and Don Smith, after their 21 ends, had a great win of 19 - 14.

The rink of Kevin Frickey, Phil Meadows, Peter Mison, and skip Clive Brook played extremely well.

I managed to watch their last few ends and on the 14th end were 12 - 15 down.

However, skip Clive drew some amazing shots which helped take them into the penultimate end 21 - 15.

When our number 3 Peter Mison went to bowl, Sidmouth were down 3 shots on the green, however, he had a great wood taking the jack to one of our woods.

Which was where it remained.

Their final score 22- 15.

So winning all three disciplines at home was enough to go forward.

However, away Ken Wheeler playing the 4 wood singles, after playing 27 ends (a lot of ends with 4 woods), managed a great shot to win 21 -20 - Phew!

Away the triple of Brian Deam, Allan Davis, and skip John Chew did really well, on their penultimate 17th end were one shot in front, at 15 -14.

Unfortunately, on their final end lost 3 shots, so their score, 15 - 17.

All very good and very close team games.

We wish them the best of luck in their next round.

This is against Exonia, probably sometime in January.

A couple of friendlies this week.

The first an away friendly to Torbay.

Unfortunately not very friendly, as looking at the names on the cards, Torbay fielded several of their better players and that certainly showed in the scoreline.

Whereas at Sidmouth we like to spread it around to all players.

However, Sidmouth lost heavily on two rinks, but our third rink just saved the day by a 13 all tie.

They were, Derek Mountford, Carol Timms, and skip Peter Mison.

Then a mixed friendly from Taunton Deane.

A great friendly afternoon finishing with a draw and a drink or two.

One of our rinks lost by 8 shots, another by just 2 shots on the final end, and our third rink of, Andrew Lowe, Anita Mason, and skip Phil Meadows, saved the day by winning 23 - 13.

Thus covering the other two rinks' losses.

So final result Sidmouth 47 Taunton Deane 47.

Very "friendly."