THERE has been a terrific battle in the East of Exe League at Wellington Bowling Club, writes Martin Speakman.

The Harriers played their club rivals Hawks for the second time this season. Harriers won the first, against all the odds but the Hawks got their revenge this time. They won on three out of four rinks with a 73 - 54 victory.

It was a really pleasant occasion for the spectators, some of whom came along waving pom-poms for their favourite team.

There was a raffle and a “Guess the final score” competition which was won in the end by club member Peter White and it raised £50 for the Beacon Centre at Musgrove Park Hospital.

Before the game began, Ian Hollingsworth, captain of the Hawks, announced that any misbehaviour by spectators or players would result in them receiving a “yellow card”. He also said that anyone loudly supporting the Harriers would also get one.

Lynda Manning, captain of the Harriers, responded by moving toward Ian in a threatening manner but he managed to avoid injury and the two laughed and made peace.

During the match something else happened which caused a big stir. At 8 p.m. the sprinklers came on!

Everyone had to run for it and the game was abandoned for several minutes while the sprinklers were turned off. A technical fault cause the sprinklers to come on at 8p.m. instead of 10 p.m. However, no yellow cards were given for untimely sprinkling by referee Angie Moore and the game resumed after a short break.

Peter White, Andy Dart, Ian Hollingsworth and skip Chrissie Willcocks' Hawks were up against Phil Wiggan, Paul Kelsall, Lynda Manning and Graham Brown's Harriers.

Graham's side were only one shot down after six ends but after that Chrissie's team settled down and pulled ahead to win a tight match, 16 – 11.

On the next rink it was a different story. Harriers were the in form side. Janet Moore, Shirley Samuel, Henry Richbell and skip Phil Ellis were 18 – 7 up against June Anderson, Lisa Dart, Paul Kelly and David Beaudet's Hawks. However Hawks picked up the pace and with one end to play were only 3 shots down on their opponents. But Harriers took the vital winning shot in the last for a 19 – 15 victory.

On the third rink, Janet Lovell, Alan May, Allan Samuel and Jay Merrell's Harriers looked to have the winning of it from the start. They were 12 – 6 up after ten ends, with only eight to play. Then the nightmare began. Barry Cutler, Marguerite Nichols, Darren Sparks and skip Bill Warnett's Hawks picked up a 6 in the 12th end and a 7 in the 13th to turn the whole game around. Hawks now led by 19 shots to Harriers' 12.

Jay's Harriers did their best to catch up but it was too late and they lost in the end to the Hawks by 22 shots to 16.

On the last rink, Liz May, Tony Stone, Gill Groves and Mike Groves' Harriers put up a good fight but Mike Copping, Pauline Wadham, Pete Nichols and Tony Gibson's Hawks were too good on the day, winning comfortably 20 – 8.

So revenge was sweet for the Hawks but afterwards everyone gathered together to enjoy food and drinks round the barbecue.