Ivybridge Bowls Club

With the season quickly reaching its end, a further two fixtures were ­completed this week.

On Tuesday evening Ivybridge entertained Tothill on the Bridge Park green. By the halfway point the home team were ahead by 15 shots. However, Tothill fought back ­strongly but were unable to overcome their poor start, and so the match went to the Ivies 79-75¼.

For the home team, there were three ­winning rinks, with John Chaplin, Geoff Brimblecombe, Roland Lugger and skip Larry Ireland ­winning 23-15½ and Peter Bray, Bruce Robinson, Jack Bilby and skip Eric Bennett scoring 21-9.

Dave Moulder, Sandy Robertson, Dave Bithell and Grenville Barnett won by the narrowest of margins, 19-18¾.

The only losing rink – comprising Fred Hawkes, Dave Gibbs, Chris Bufton and skip Ken Kempthorne – let slip a 14-12 lead after the first 10 ends and could only pick up two more shots over the last 11 ends. Their final score was 16-32.

The euphoria of that win was short-lived, though, when the Ivybridge side took on high-flying City Bus at Central Park in the Saturday League game.

The match was all but over after the first eight ends, with City Bus going into a 25-shot lead, which was increased to 41 shots at the halfway mark.

There was no let-off for the Ivies in the ­second half. The final score was a massive 163-82½ to the home side.

Geoff Brimblecombe, Tony Plant and Grenville Barnett skipped by Stan Parsons lost 24-49 and with a losing score of 19-35 were Peter Bray, Dave Bithell, Eric Bennett and skip Larry Ireland.

Brian Harman, Frank Sanders and Dave Taylor with skip Dave Crisp went down 19½-35. Completing the nightmare for the ­visitors were Bruce Robinson, Arthur Baxendale and Roland Lugger skipped by Ken Kempthorne, who lost 20-44.