North Mymms Bowls Club hosted one of the first chances to fill the trophy cabinet when they took on teams from Potters Bar and Harperbury for the annual Nethercott Trophy.

Each club fielded four teams but damp weather forced an early finish after 16 of the usual 18 ends.

It left a tie between Potters Bar and North Mymms, each winning three games, with the trophy going the way of Potters Bar after winning shots was used to split the draw.

The cup has been sponsored by Nethercott Funerals since 2011 and managing director Charles Nethercott was on hand to present the trophy, along with wife Liz and daughter Charlotte.

The good start to the season for Shire Park Bowls Club (Tewin) continued, starting with a 85-83 friendly success away to St Albans.

Their top rink in that one was Gill Mills, Elaine Wulcko and skip Gus Edwards after a 24-13 success.

There was a more comfortable victory away to Letchworth Garden City, new bowler Christine Goode joining with Linda Draycott and Edwards in the top rink as Park won 64-48, and there was one win at home to as they beat Northaw & Cuffley 81-66.

The top rink was that of Barry Wright, Wulcko and skip Byron Sinfield.

Datchworth's season has begun with a couple of good victories too.

The first came with a 62-58 mixed friendly win at Shephalbury after the clubs had shared the four rinks, contested by teams of three.

Maureen Blunt, Neil Mean and skip George Campbell picked up the first of them in a match that never had more than two shots separating the sides, coming from 12-11 down with three ends to go to win 14-12.

It was a different story for Richard Hutchinson, John Ellis and skip Rob Hazeu as they stormed back from an early 4-1 deficit after three ends to win 21-9.

The second game was their first Stevenage & District Mixed Bowls League match of the season, at home to Howard Garden from Letchworth and with wins on two of the three rinks, they claimed a 52-37 success.

Rachel Jones, Ken Ryder, George Campbell and Steve Arnold won 18-9 while Dickie Jackson, Janet Akers, Steve Chamberlain and Les Parsley won 21-14.