Last week saw the first matches of the current season take place in the South Hams Short Mat Bowls League.

Putting down an early marker in division one were the Milk Churns, who took full advantage of their home mats by thrashing Strete by some 23 shots to take all the points.

At the same venue Spilt Milk were entertaining the other Totnes side the Milky Bar Kids, but as one might expect this was a much more closely contested affair.

Even so with only six shots splitting the teams, Spilt Milk walked away with a maximum six points.

Slapton Cygnets started their campaign at home against new comers to the division this year Stokenham Stokers and despite a close match between Arthur Wotton’s rink and that skipped by Peter Sandell for the Stokenham, Wotton edge his way to victory by two shots and with Alan Mallyon’s home rink taking a comfortable win over John Cadman’s four it was also a fine start for the Cygnets.

In the other first division match South Milton were at home to the other new comers, their other South Milton team the Sanders. As you can imagine this was very important game, with village bragging rites up for grabs. In the end it was the new boys the Sanders who took the plaudits, led by a fine victory for Ivy Yeabsley, with grandson Antony Hammett also in her rink, beating the very experienced skip Kenny Luscombe 18 – 8. On the other mat Brian Luscombe was doing all that he could to pull things back against Robert Luscombe, but just missed out getting the overall win. Therefore the Sanders took 4 points from their 25 – 23 victory.

In division 2 with Ivybridge Erme having a bye and the match Kingston against Diptford being postponed, there were only two matches played and these were Loddiswell at home to the Milkies and Dittisham against South Brent.

In the Loddiswell game it looked as if it would be a real battle with Richard & Oliver White in the same rink, up against Rose & Mike Morrison for the Milkies; but home advantage and some fine bowling from the home team, Richard’s rink had an easy win 27 – 6. Not everything went their way however as Malcolm Hayter eased past Frank Carpenter to claim a 2 shot rink win and reduce the overall points total for the home side to just 4.

In the other match the visitors South Brent took home four points with a victory by Francis Newman over Malcolm Fletcher 19 – 8 and a loss by Celia Young to the ever consistent David Fletcher 12 – 16.

Division 3 matches saw Slapton Swans away to Stokenham Hammers, with a fine win for both Swans rinks skipped by Eddie Bowles & Mark Sullock 17 – 8 & 17 - 10 respectively, thus picking up 6 points. The other two matches played were Foxhole at home to Ivybridge Filham, where home advantage paid dividends with fine wins for both home skips John Derbyshire & Alan Mitchell and the final match was Wembury at home to Stoke Fleming where once again the home team took control to run out winners 37 – 19, but just failed to take all the points as Stoke managed to hold them to a draw on one of the rinks.