Shefford played its first domestic competition, the Richard Porch Trophy, on Sunday afternoon. There were 36 members taking part in a triples competition which was split into two groups. The winners of each group took part in the final. After a lengthy da

Shefford played its first domestic competition, the Richard Porch Trophy, on Sunday afternoon.

There were 36 members taking part in a triples competition which was split into two groups. The winners of each group took part in the final.

After a lengthy day, the winners were Moreen Stevens, John Batcheldor and Bill Lamb.

Runners-up were the group B winners Mike Hammond, Chris Tuffnell and Marjorie Miles.

Saturday saw the ladies beat Luton Town by one shot, while the men played the strong Sandy Conservative club and lost heavily.

The ladies A team played a rearranged game against the strong Henlow B side and lost last Tuesday.

Twenty teams started off in the club's open day gala on Bank Holiday Monday.

At lunch, eight teams dropped out because of the weather, which left the organisers some headaches with rescheduling games.

After the third round, another three dropped out as the weather got the better of some players!

Eight teams finished the competition and the winners were The Fab Four from Whitethorn, Letchworth, with 63 points. In second place were the Vandals from Henlow who lost out by one point.

Whitethorn Bowls Club played two friendly away matches over the weekend with varying fortunes.

On Saturday, they played at Datchworth with an assortment of mixed triples and fours on six rinks, but only achieved one winning rink.

Whitethorn skips: T Graham, T Saunders, M Farron, R Adams, B Platten and S Worsley.

On Sunday, they played at Welwyn Garden City with the ladies forming two triples and the men four fours.

Whitethorn lost on one rink, drew on one and won on four, giving them an overall win.

Whitethorn skips: J Ralph, A Fabris, M Gowlett, B Ralph, T Fuller and B Platten.

Hitchin Town's weekday bowlers had two poor games, losing on both occasions.

They lost on three of the four rinks to Stopsley Vets last Tuesday, winning by only a single shot on the fourth rink. Hitchin lost the match overall by a resounding 74-45.

They were away at Letchworth's Norton Common greens with a match against Willian Bowls Club last Thursday. Hitchin lost narrowly in a match curtailed by the weather.

Howard Garden beat Knebworth away in a SDML match on Saturday, winning three out of four rinks and 80-67 overall. This gave Howard Garden six out of seven league points. Howard Garden lost to Datchworth on Sunday.

The midweek bowlers had a close game with Stevenage last Tuesday, winning three out of five rinks but losing 82-87 overall.

On Thursday, against Royston in a reduced game due to rain, Howard Garden lost by 11 shots.

The weather certainly played its part in the week's bowling for Datchworth.

Scores: Datchworth Blue 33 Shire Park Green 44; Datchworth Gold 42 Rosehill Foxes 17; Datchworth Blue 36 Hertford 18; Datchworth 114 Whitethorn 91; Datchworth 101 Howard Garden 66.

The first event in the calendar for North Herts Woman's Bowling Association was postponed over the bank holiday due to heavy rain.

The event - a two-wood gala day at Norton Bowls Club in Norton's centenary year - will now be rearranged for later on in the season.

This was to have been the first event to be overseen by new association president Diane Porter whose home club is Hitchin Town.

Diane Porter was previously president of North Herts Woman's Bowling Association in 1990, so this is her second term in office.

The first game for the ladies' association will now be against the Letchworth and District Men's Bowling Association at Royston a week on Sunday (June 15).