There were ups and downs for players at Shire Park Bowls Club (Tewin) as they played two competition finals. 

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Alan Goddard of Shire Park. Picture: SHIRE PARK BCAlan Goddard of Shire Park. Picture: SHIRE PARK BC (Image: Shire Park Bowls Club (Tewin))

Alan Goddard lost 21-11 to Rob Edwards of Welwyn Garden City Bowls Club in the final of the In the Welwyn Hatfield League open singles.

But Gus Edwards took the top prize in the St Albans & District Bowling Association's officers singles, beating Brian Parkes from Batchwood 21-18.

He received his prize from Gordon Burrows, the District president.

There were mixed results too in the club's mixed friendlies.

They lost 87-77 away to Potters Bar, winning one rink and drawing on two out of the five played.

The successful team was that of Ray Adams, Eileen Williams and Bill Draycott with an 18-9 win.

However, it was far more straight forward against Bengeo at home as they won 49-22 with Chris Goode, Elaine Wulcko and Draycott the best of the three rink wins from three.

Datchworth played their final two games of the Stevenage Mixed League.

The first of them, at home to near neighbours Knebworth, resulted in a 55-46 victory.

Ann Edwards, Maurice Gordon and Ian Williams trailed 7-3 after five ends but were level six ends later before going on to win all but two of the remaining ends for a 19-13 success.

Linda Tyler, Julian Hales and Graham Akers were Datchworth's other winning rink of the three played.

They took the first seven ends to lead by 12-0 before easing to a 21-12 win.

The final fixture, also at home, resulted in a 53-46 loss to Stevenage Town.

They still won two of the three rinks played though.

Barbara Williams, Ian Green, Keith Smith and Derek Henley built up an early lead on their way to a 19-13 success while Dickie Jackson, Ann Edwards, Terry Metcalf and Steve Arnold had to fightback from a 11-5 deficit after seven ends.

But they pulled themselves together and closed out a 17-16 win.

Datchworth also played three mixed friendlies.

They won away at Luton Co-Op, 50-48 in a rain-shortened contest.

The teams shared the four rinks equally with the successes of Nicki Berry, Ian Tyler and Graham Akers (17-9) and Howard Carrick, Janet Akers and Skip Keith Smith (14-7) proving crucial.

There was less joy in the two home fixtures.

Northaw & Cuffley stormed to a comprehensive 94-26 success, all four home rinks losing, and a slightly closer 108-80 defeat to Hertford.

They did have two rink wins out of the six played.

Despite losing twice as many ends than they won Linda Tyler, John Spraggett and Skip terry Metcalf managed to keep their losing score down to 11-14.

Mike Marsh, Janet Akers and Clyde Martindill took the lead on the third end and held it all the way to the finish for a 20-8 success.

It was a different story for Celia Gordon, George Campbell and Akers as the lead in their match changed hands five times in the first 10 ends.

That was when they pulled away though, winning 20-10 at the finish.