AFTER their encouraging start to the season, Bovey Tracey hit the buffers this week, losing five of their seven matches played.

One exception was in the men's Over 55s X Division at The Den, where Bovey won by a single shot, earning them six league points.

K Lockett, C Miall, P Joy 24-15; J Richards, C Young, C Shorland 16-24. The Y Division team lost at home to Totnes, although full match details were unavailable at time of reporting.

Bovey ladies lost to Chudleigh in a home triples friendly by 41 shots to 48. By contrast, they were winners against Rock Park, Barnstaple in the Interclub Competition by 45 shots to 31. They now play either Abbrook or Plymstock A in the next round.

A friendly match against a visiting men's touring team from West Sussex was interesting. On a good day with plenty of banter, the visitors won 81-46, by three rinks to one.

C Miall, D Wraighte, C Shorland, T Ridgewell 18-17; A Chew, D Cosway, K Lockett, K Breame 11-22; P Cridge, R Bailey, C Young, A Franklin 8-20; L Fullbrook, J Richards, S Callard, P Joy 9-22.

Meanwhile, a home mixed friendly against Ottery St Mary produced a win for Bovey by three rinks to one, 81-74.

L Fullbrook, J Chew, A Franklin, S Breame 25-18; D Cosway, K Callard, K Breame, R Bailey 15-23; P Cridge, J Fullbrook, C Shorland, P Joy 23-16; A Chew, L Cridge, S Callard, S Johnson 18-17.

Another home mixed friendly, however, produced a different result with the visiting Okehampton team winning by 72 shots to Bovey's 63, with the rinks shared two apiece. Well done to one of Okehampton's rinks of Lyn, Angi, Andy and Tony for scoring a hotshot!

A Isaaks, J Fullbrook, D Wraight, S Breame 21-11; L Cridge, K Isaaks, A Franklin, R Bailey 8-19, A Chew, C Miall, A Tremlett, S Johnson 22-18, L Fullbrook, J Chew, P Cridge, K Lockett 12-24.