The weather may be warmer but it's been raining at Welwyn & District Bowls Club - silverware that is.

For the second successive year the Ottway Walk-based club have a national champion as Phil Russell, together with Garston's Jerry Rumball, took the crown in the over 55 pairs.

They needed the help though of super-sub Joe Festa. Russell's W&D team-mate had to step in when a scheduling clash meant Rumball was playing in the mixed fours.

It meant the Welwyn pair competed in rounds one and two plus the quarter-final.

Rumball was back for the semi, which was closer than they liked, but the final wasn't, the Herts pair winning 27-3.

Russell and Festa were also in the men's pairs and the senior fours, together with Chris V'Alle and Barry Smith, both lost in the first round of both competitions.

Rhianna Russell was defending her ladies two bowls singles title but lost in the last four to eventual winner Laura Holden from Somerset.

She also competed in the mixed fours, another semi-final defeat, and she went out in the quarter-final of the champion of champions, beaten 21-20 to eventual runner-up, Donna Rock of Dorset.

Russell and Festa had much better news after returning from Royal Leamington Spa as they won the Hertfordshire men’s pairs final with a 16-12 win at Berkhamsted.

And the club finished a great few weeks by retaining their district Bob Vise Trophy title, beating North Mymms in the final held at Harpenden.

A total of 10 clubs had entered the knock-out competition, which sees a team of 10 playing one each of a singles, pairs, triples and fours rink.

This is the fifth time Welwyn & District have secured the shiny pot.

The club maintains its own green, clubhouse, bar, and kitchen facilities and offer an excellent opportunity for players of all ages, levels and abilities to enjoy bowls, both on and off the green.

For more details, go to www.welwynbowls.co.uk or to arrange a visit, send an email to membership@welwynbowls.co.uk

Datchworth were also involved in a county league play-off, theirs coming against Buntingford in the east area group.

It ended in a 47-17 loss though, both rinks suffering big defeats.

Two mixed friendlies ended in losses as well, as did a Stevenage Mixed League match.

They were beaten 73-64 at home to Welwyn Garden City, winning on just one of the four rinks, that a 19-11 success for Lynn Marsh, Barbara Williams, Julian Hales and Rob Hazeu.

A trip to Cheshunt ended in the same outcome, all four rinks losing this time in an 80-49 defeat.

Jack Harper, Lucy Williams and Maurice Gordon came closest, going down 13-12.

The SML game saw Three Horseshoes win 46-37, Chris Hills, Dave Castle, Keith Smith and Derek Henley the one winning Datchworth rink.

They won their final Welwyn Hatfield League game of the season, beating Welwyn & District at Ottway Walk 37-19.

Jan Smith, Castle and Hills were their rink winners, 25-6.

Potters Bar will have representation in this week's men's district finals at Harpenden and the ladies' event at North Mymms.

Richard Pearce and David Salmon will play in the pairs final before being joined by Chris Budden and Barry Woodman for the men’s fours.

They reached the final of the Triples League with a win over Hatfield and the ladies' Australian pairs team of Diane Jewell and Jean Scott won through against the same club on the deciding end.

Jewell played again in the afternoon in the officers' singles defeating Sheila Bowler from Oakhill 21-17.

The ladies' triples team of Pam Rodgers, Diane Jewell and Sue Powers won their semi-final 26-11 against Batchwood.

The only competitive match for Shire Park (Tewin) this week saw Elaine Wulcko play Linda Brooks from Harpenden in the Champion of Champions final.

Unfortunately she lost 21-17.

Park also lost at home to Batchwood in a friendly, going down 92-75 with the top rink that of Richard Griggs, Chris Wright and Bill Griffiths who won 20-13.

A friendly at home to Cheshunt brought a 91-62 win, however.

They won on four of the five rinks and drew the other.

The top rink was Mike Bridgeman, Gordon Price and Gus Edwards.

Shire Park also had a big win away to Buntingford, winning on all four rinks for an overall 89-46 success.

Edwards and Price were this time joined by Andy Short in the top rink after a 33-5 win.