Datchworth decided that if they were going to cook in the heat, they would do it on the coast - with a summer tour to Torquay.

The Turkey Farm bowls club played three matches in Devon, beginning at Torbay Country Club with a 143-128 loss, despite sharing the eight rinks equally.

Their highest winning one was that of Maureen Blunt, Jan Smith, Keith Smith and Steve Arnold with a 20-10 victory.

Clyde Martindill, Les Parsley and Peter Hills led the other three.

There was a second defeat one day later at Newton Abbott, 110-87, again after sharing the rinks equally.

Chris Hills, Jenny and Phil Holzbauer and Derek Henley took the top honours this time, 21-10, 

But they ended on a high, winning their final game of the tour 87-85 at Brixham St Mary’s.

And despite the narrowness of the winning margin, they won five of the six rinks played.

Only two of them were by more than two shots though, the best of them coming in a 16-10 success for Jan Smith, Phil Holzbauer, Ian Green and Peter Hills.

They were back home for the weekend when they played a Stevenage Mixed League match against Holwell, going down to a 48-44 loss.

The match had the number of ends reduced to combat the heat and the three rinks each had a different result.

The home win belonged to Janet Akers, George Campbell and Steve Chamberlain, with a 14-9 success, while there was a 19-19 draw for Lucy Williams, Howard Carrick, Ian Green and Peter Hills after a see-saw game that saw them trail 13-1 at the break, lead 1914 going into the final end, but then drop five on the last one.

They did claim the league point for the rink on an extra end though.

Chris Hills, Alfie Williams, Daniel Williams and Derek Henley led 11-1 after five ends but then never won again as they fell 20-11.

Shire Park Bowls Club (Tewin) only had two friendlies this week.

They won the first of them at home to Great Barford, 53-23, with the top rink being that of Ray Adams, Richard Griggs and Laura Hastings.

They were also at home against Townsend with two players making their first appearance.

One of them, Trish Feast, was in the top rink alongside Brenda Barber and Gus Edwards.

However, Shire Park were beaten 67-61 overall.