RIVERAIN'S Bowlers have gone out of two National Competitions. The ladies lost to Herga in the fourth round of the Mason Trophy and the mixed teams lost in the Zone final to Desborough Maidenhead. In the Mason trophy Rita Newbury, Aileen Weaver, Yvonne Hu

RIVERAIN'S Bowlers have gone out of two National Competitions.

The ladies lost to Herga in the fourth round of the Mason Trophy and the mixed teams lost in the Zone final to Desborough Maidenhead.

In the Mason trophy Rita Newbury, Aileen Weaver, Yvonne Hull, and Skip Angie Fabris, with Val Bacon, Diane Porter, Barbara Eddington, and Skip Shirley Houghton, lost 23 Shots to 45.

In the Zegham Trophy Zone final Linda O'Flanagan, Terry Saunders, Gill Walker and Skip Mick O'Flangan, with Mick Allen, Sharon Allen, Shirley Page and Skip Jim Allen won 40 shots to 38.

The home teams of Muriel Saunders Jimmy McIntyre, Michelle Barlow, and Skip Darren Hickin, together with Jenny Ralph, Shay Mumford, Terry Godden and Skip Tony Webb lost by 30 Shots to 49.

Webb has also reached the last 16 of the National Champion of Champions singles competition for the third consecutive time.

He beat Howard Watts from Oxford and District 21-15 in the inter-area play-off.

He will now play in the competition on Hayling Island on February 6.

Stevenage Leisure Centre Indoor Bowls Club's final match of the year was their traditional festive gala.

In addition to the normal greys and whites, the players chose to wear Christmas ties and silly hats.

They also had a very enjoyable match played over four sets of five ends each with eight teams participating.

The event's winners were the team of Aidan Heritage, Edna Carruthers, Ray Higgs and Skip Angela Newstead, and the runners-up were Audrey Taylor, Ron Riley, Joan James and Skip Cyril Lamacraft.

On paper, perhaps, were the strongest team of Muriel Cooper, David Graham and skip Colvin Cooper, but they finished last and collected the booby prize.

Letchworth and District finished off 2008 with a visit to Luton.

In another closely fought game Luton took the early initiative and led by six shots, 44-50, after the first seven ends.

This lead was extended to 16 shots, 85-101, after 14 ends but with one end to go Letchworth had pulled themselves back into the game and were leading by 137 shots to 134.

Unfortunately all seven rinks lost their last ends and Luton won the match 145 shots to 137.

Letchworth's biggest winners were Dennis Byatt (Holwell), Steve Arnold (Datchworth), Mick Reidy (Holwell) and Skip Colin Cole (Three Horseshoes) who beat their opponents, skipped by G Parker, 25-16.

The other scores (Skips only) were Houghton 24, Giddins 23; Webb 15, Bennett 18; Turner 16, Burton 17; Wright 16, Hancock 35, Males 24, Stott 20 and Parsley 27, Maldy 16.