Whitethorn Bowls Club have had mixed fortunes in competition matches in the last week. The men won at Holwell Bowls Club in the county league on Thursday. But on Friday the men just lost to Rosehill Bowls Club in the Top Ten competition played at home. Th

Whitethorn Bowls Club have had mixed fortunes in competition matches in the last week.

The men won at Holwell Bowls Club in the county league on Thursday.

But on Friday the men just lost to Rosehill Bowls Club in the Top Ten competition played at home.

The ladies played their North Herts Ladies' Triple League at home last Wednesday and won on both rinks giving them the maximum points available.

Sunday saw the club play a friendly of five mixed triples against Potton at home on a showery afternoon. Whitethorn won on four rinks giving them a win overall of 110-71.

Skips: Ron Chatman 18-17; Angela Fabris 38-8; Barry Platten 24-10; Terry Ware 13-22 and Peter Willson 17-14.

Stotfold enjoyed a win in the county league at Potton 86-67.

In the second round of the Pell Shield, they had a win against Henlow 79-69 in spite of having to play the tie away due to their Gala Day.

Scores: Andy King and Mick Cave won 24-18, Chris Albon and Bobby Bell won 22-20, Martin Rowe and Alan Holloway lost 13-18, and Roland Legate and Richard Drury won 20-13.

In friendly matches, there were wins against Great Gransden 70-66 and against Eaton Socon 122-70. Their ladies were beaten by Whitethorn 31-42.

Their open triples 'Gala Day' on Sunday was unfortunately spoiled by rain showers, but the eventual winners of the 'Stotfold Invitation Cup' and cash prize were the Team Pelyia, second place went to The Rabbits and third place to Henlow Park Mixers.

The club is morning the death of Harry Reeds, one of its long serving members, aged 86.

Howard Garden beat Aston away on Saturday in a SDML match by 80-77 taking four league points out of seven.

It was close as Aston won three out of four rinks but a 31-16 win on the fourth rink by Pauline Kingsmill, John Pepper, Harry Tindall and Dave Greatorex was enough to win the day.

As 25 Howard Garden members were on their annual bowls tour, the midweek bowlers did well to beat Letchworth Garden City 61-55 last Tuesday but lost 49-83 to Baldock on Thursday.

Hitchin Town hosted a match against Stevenage on Saturday, managing a comfortable victory by 31 shots (90-59). Their top rink was Joe Corda, Neil MacLeod, Mike Wadsworth and Andy Hill.

Rink one: R Allen, M Wells, G Munge, I Page won 25-15. Rink two: G Corda, N MacLeod, M Wadsworth, A Hill won 24-9. Rink three: S Hearne, D Conder, R Cole, A Cook won 25-14. Rink four: B Clark, J Warren, G Billingham, L Lane lost 16-21.

Hitchin then visited Holwell on Sunday, losing by 21 shots (36-57).

Of the three triples, Holwell managed to pull ahead on two for good wins. The other rink was close but with Hitchin managing to salvage their solitary win.

The top Hitchin rink was Jean Parish, Joe Morgan and Andy Hill.

Rink one: J Parish, J Morgan, A Hill won 16-14. Rink two: B Clark, J Hill, M Squires lost 9-18. Rink three: R Allen, J Squires, G Billingham lost 11-25.

Hitchin notched up another win in the North Herts League last Wednesday with a win over Norton (43-32).

Rink one: M Wells, M Squires, G Munge, I Thorne won 26-16. Rink two: L Hill, R Parker, M. Wadsworth, A Cook won 17-16.

Shefford's men played in the East Beds League last Monday and the A team lost to Sandy Con B by two shots in a top of the table clash.

The B team won their first game with a comfortable win at Flitwick. The C team lost narrowly at home to Maulden A by two shots.

In the ladies' knockout cup, the A team beat Potton at home while the B lost by seven shots at the strong Sandy Con side.

Maureen Nicholson progressed in the county singles by beating Joy Bland from Henlow, while Ralph Archer and Geoff Henry progressed in the men's county pairs.

Saturday saw the men lose at home to the strong Kent Athletic side by 90 shots to 55. Despite losing on three rinks they did have a winning rink of Stan Spencer, Derek Wilson, Dave Northern and Bob Nicholson. The ladies had a close game at Wilstead, winning narrowly.

Sunday morning saw the club progress in the Pell Shield winning against Linslade, winning by 33 shots.

The afternoon game against Houghton Regis at home was called off as the visitors could not raise a side.

There was another successful weekend for the Baldock club. On Saturday they travelled to St Andrews Biggleswade where the slope on the green gives the home side an advantage. After a shaky start, Baldock recovered to win on three of the four rinks.

Scores: M Parsons won 38-14, D Turner won 20-11, J Carter lost 16-21, M Wintrip won 21-13.

On Sunday the club travelled to Langford to play a mixed triples match. Again, the result went in Baldock's favour with two winning rinks, one draw and one loss and an overall win by 10 shots.

Scores: J Murison lost 10-20, N Gazely won 22-9, I Walker drew 16-16, J Carter won 20-13.

Sunday morning saw the club entertain Townsend St Albans in the third round of the County Team Ten,

Baldock won in all four disciplines and will now meet local rivals Riverain in the quarter-finals.

Rich Gentle won the singles 21-13; Brian Todd and Ian Greig won the pairs 25-13; David Davies, Dave Turner and Mel Swain won the triples 16-11; Brian Leadley, Mike Parsons, Tony Castle and John Crosby won the fours 19-15.