History was made at Riverain Indoor Bowls Club as Hertfordshire took on international opponents - England Ladies providing the opposition.

It was also the first short-mat county game played at the Woolgrove Road club and it ended the national squad winning 30-18.

Play was divided into six sessions, each session consisting of a pairs game, two triples and a fours, with two points at stake in each contest.

The two teams turned round at 4-4 after the first session, with the triple of Julia Bruce, Mike Ecclestone and Brian McGivern one of the Herts winners and the quartet of Bill Durham, Toni Gayler, Toni Gearing and skip Jeanette Gayler the other

England pressed on in session two, winning 6-2 with the Herts success coming in the pairs for Jill Quarterman and Jeff Branch thanks to two shots on the final end.

Session three was a clean sweep for England meaning a half-way advantage of 18-6 but Herts roared back in session four, winning 6-2.

The triple of Sue Murray, Jan Rodgers and Dennis Mack won 11-5 with the trio of Michael West, Margaret Hare and Bill Gearing triumphed 7-2.

The four of Carol Still, Liz Bradley, Alan Spicer and Alan Hare finished a superb session for Herts with an 8-3 win.

England responded in kind though in session five with Bruce, Eccleston and McGivern picking up the only home win but, like the first, the final session was shared with four points each.

Quarterman and Branch hung on for a 10-9 win in the pairs while there was another triples success for West, Margaret Hare and Bill Gearing, winning this one 7-4.

A spokesman for the county said: "This was always going to be a tough test against international standard bowlers but it was great preparation for our Inter County Championship campaign which started well with a big win against London."

The next match is against West Sussex on Sunday.