NEWTON Abbot Bowls Club ladies kicked off the SDL Season at Bitton Park unfortunately losing on all three Rinks, therefore 10-0 overall so as the saying goes, things can only get better, reports David Pickett.

The Men don't play their first MDL Game until May 29.

In Section Five, Isobel Burley defeated fellow club member Julie Barnes in the Ladies Four Wood Singles, Isobel goes through to play Heidi Call from Bovey Tracy in the next round.

Also in Section Five, Kevin Hunt beat S Edwards of Chudleigh in the Men’s Major Two Wood Singles and goes on to play D Rice of Shaldon in his next round.

Dave Pickett played his first Presidents Game as Junior Vice President in the Annual Ladies v Mens Devon Presidents Match (pictured), hosted by North Tawton Bowling Club with Catherine Pickett also taking part. Although the Ladies won on three rinks and the men on two, the overall score favoured the men. This game was played in great spirit and afterwards, everyone sat down for a very nice meal.

Finally, the club would like to wish Alan Mann a swift recovery. I won’t elaborate out of respect for his family but I will say Alan is a true gentleman.

On to Bovey Tracey BC and have had a very busy schedule of matches during the last ten days, writes John Keith Lockett.

In the Men's Over 55s competition, Bovey have entered two teams this season and their first matches produced excellent results for both.

In the X Division away at Starcross, the result hinged on the final end of one rink, which Bovey won to take the match by 37 shots to 36.

L Fulbrook, C Shorland, P Joy 28-4; D Anderson, S Callard, K Lockett 9-32. League points: Starcross 2 - Bovey Tracey 6.

At home in the Y Division against Newton Abbot, Bovey won on both rinks by 18-11 and 21-18. League points: Bovey Tracey 8 - Newton Abbot 0.

Bovey ladies were in action in their first match in the Ladies Triples Challenge but struggled on the carpet at Ilsington, losing by 25 shots to 57.

They also played two friendlies at The Den and Chudleigh with mixed results. A win at The Den included a hot shot (nine shots on one end), whereas the Chudleigh match resulted in defeat by 60 shots to 44.

In a mixed friendly at Abbrook Park, Bovey won overall by 68 shots to 58. J Ellis, C Shorland, D Johnson, P Joy 16-18; C Miall, M Bolt, A Franklin, S Johnson 13-16; L Fullbrook, S Davies, A Chew, K Breame 13-13; D Cosway, J Fullbrook, J Richards, H Call 26-11.

A mixed friendly at home against Sir Francis Drake, Plymouth was also won by Bovey by 69 shots to 64. S Perry, K Callard, C Shorland, P Joy 21-16; P Cridge, M Bolt, D Johnson, K Lockett 15-17; D Cosway, S Martin, S Callard, H Call 8-17; A Chew, C Towle, A Franklin, S Johnson 25-14.

And finally, another mixed friendly at Babbacombe resulted in a draw, 66 shots all. S Davies, D Cosway, D Bailey, K Lockett 14-20; A Chew, Y Stanford, A Franklin, H Call 13-11; J Chew, M Bolt, P Cridge, R Bailey 18-18; L Cridge, D Wraighte, S Callard, P Joy 21-17.