Local petanque players featured heavily at the annual Home Nations tournament. The English, Scottish and Welsh petanque associations battled it out at Princes Park, the home of Dartford FC. A local quartet were representing the Chiltern Region – Sam Blake

Local petanque players featured heavily at the annual Home Nations tournament.

The English, Scottish and Welsh petanque associations battled it out at Princes Park, the home of Dartford FC.

A local quartet were representing the Chiltern Region - Sam Blakey at 15 years old (Wymondley), along with his three senior team-mates Rob Fox (Stevenage), Toni Gates (Benington) and Matthew Eversden (Baldock) - after a qualifying competition earned the position of England team four.

Around 100 players from the three nations competed to take home the trophy this year and each nation entered eight teams of three or four players.

Princes Park was used to host the competition which rotates between each of the three countries on an annual basis.

The local team, with 11 wins out of 12 games, helped the England squad to an amazing victory.

England were the clear winners with 86 wins, Wales came second with 38 wins and Scotland third on 24 wins.

The English total (86 wins) is a record amount in the history of this competition.