TAVISTOCK Sir Francis Drake Bowling Club completed a programme of eight matches during a week which concluded with an away win at Barnstaple United Services Club on Saturday.
This week got off to a bad start on Sunday when a mixed team went down 89-117 to Launceston club. Kensey Vale, with only skips Colin Tremaine (15-14) and Norman Paramor (19-16) leading winning rinks.
It got no better for the men's Country Trophy team on Tuesday evening when they lost 75-81 away to Devonport Park, with club captain Mike Allen skipping the only winning rink when his team of Phil Jury, Robert Bowhay and Sandy Sanders won 20-13.
Wednesday saw a visit by the Canadian touring team the 'Ontario Trilliums' who proved strong opposition, with skip John Smith facing a current Canadian women's international player on his rink.
John's team of Roy Northam, Charlie Cummings and Joan Northey lost 26-23, but overall the Tavistock teams took the match 134-103 with wins on rinks skipped by Norman Paramor (31-11), Malcolm Bloomer (18-16) and Mike Allen (31-14).
The Canadian team are scheduled to play Tavistock twice more during their tour and have vowed to reverse their defeat when they next play there.
The Thursday afternoon journey by a mixed team to Plymstock resulted in a 84-68 win for Tavistock, thanks to good wins on two of the four rinks played. Der Saunders led his team of Vic Doidge, Henry Lovell and Malcolm Bloomer to a 32-5 win, while Mike Allen skipped his team of Hazel Lovell, Charlie Cummings and Clifford Hicks to a 25-11 victory.
Thursday's men's Evening League match away to Lee Moor saw a change of fortunes for the team who came away with an 86-64 victory, thanks to winning two of the four rinks and drawing a third.
Mike Allen's team of Rob Bowhay, Phil Jury and Colin Craven won 24-15, Bernie Downs saw his team of Geoff Cork, John Smith and Sandy Sanders win 28-13 and Tony Coombs steered his team of Pat Sykes, Malcolm Bloomer and Lionel Sims to a creditable 19-19 draw.
The ladies' section's only match during the week was against local rivals Yelverton. Tavistock won 69-47, winning all three rinks played. Skip Jean Flay led her team of Marion Allen, Audrey Northam and June Watson — playing in her first competitive match — to a 20-14 win. The team of Betty Browse (skip), Joan Northey, Joyce Drew and Marlene Paramor, won 27-14, while skip Gill Saunders led her team of Anne Doidge, Dorice Hicks and Hazel Lovell to a narrow 22-19 victory.
Saturday's away match at Barnstaple saw a win for Tavistock by 105-102 thanks to wins on three of the six rinks played. Skip Mike Allen led his team of George Blackburn, Gordon Northey and Audrey Northam to a 22-20 win. Robert Bowhay (skip), Betty Browse, Vic Doidge and Brian Preece, won 23-9, and skip Roy Northam, saw his team of Tom Sharp, Roy Gill and Shirley Blackburn achieve a 16-13 win.