League bowls is back and in full effect with clubs back in the swing of actual competition.

Shire Park Bowls Club (Tewin) started with a tight 33-32 win at Datchworth Gold in the East Herts League.

Both teams won one rink but it was the 14-12 success of Robin Bramson, new member Bill Draycott and skip John Hastings that proved crucial.

There was also success in the County Pairs competition with Gus Edwards and Mike Howe, Fred Goodege standing in for Howe in the second of them, advancing through two rounds against opponents from Harpenden and St Albans.

Martin Reeve and Gordon Price exited the same competition but Ian Kirsch and Edwards won away at WGC in the St Albans District Pairs.

For Potters Bar, Richard Pearce came through both rounds in the County Singles as did Steve Jewell, beating players from Welwyn & District and Oakhill.

Diane Jewell also beat Leslie Tutt in the Ladies' County Singles after coming from behind in an exciting game and over in the St Albans Stockman-Winser competition, Barry Woodman’s team were successful in their first round match against Harperbury.

Datchworth got over their loss to Tewin with three wins in the Welwyn Hatfield competitions.

The Greens beat WGC Crusaders 38-27 in the John Brown Trophy, the top rink that of Rob Hazeu, Mike Mahoney and Les Parsley, while in the league there was a 35-34 success for the Greens at Welwyn & District Wanderers and a 38-20 victory for the Yellows against Hertford Castle Jesters.

Chris Hills, Andrew Phillips and Hazeu were the top rink against the Wanderers while both rinks won by nine shots against the Jesters.

There was also a win for the Blues in the opening East Herts League match, beating Sele Farm 40-33. The top rink in that game was Graham Akers, Derek Henley and Parsley.