ROYSTON Bowls Club had a mixed bag of results recently.

In a hard-fought contest with Roebuck in the National Top Team competition, Brian Pepper, in the Two Wood Singles, held his own against Steve Kilford until end 10, when Kilford gained the upper hand and drifted away to a 16-8 victory.

Matt Coppen had a slow start in his Four Wood Singles game against P Roseblade but eventually engaged a gear and surged forward to gain a 21-17 victory.

Simon Lee and Peter Adams had a scare in their Pairs match with Paul Turner and Martin Brackley but went on to win 19-17.

In the Triples, Roger Davies, Roger Neville, and skip Mick O’Flanagan were out-gunned by C Kilford, A Dowie and S Cook and lost 24-13.

The fours of Stan Whitehouse, Terry Hollands, Don Sheriff, and skip Stewart Brown endured a tough game before eventually going down 13-12 with the last shot.

Royston also visited Letchworth Garden City BC for a four rinks of mixed triples game. There was very little between the two teams, but Royston run out 55-50 winners.

In a Spoon Drive for the Royston Hospital, Kath Whithear won the Stan Baker Trophy.

Bank Holiday Monday saw teams compete in the Royston Bowls Club’s Gala Triples. The successful trio was Pam Cooper, Stan Whitehouse, and Roger Neville.

On Tuesday, Anne and Will Martin played a pair from Baldock in the Letchworth and District Mixed Pairs. The Martin’s romped home with a 25-6 triumph, scoring a four and a five on the way.

Playing at home in the L&D Triples competition, Royston’s Ron Colton, Don Sheriff and skip Roger Neville just missed out against a trio from Baldock who collected a two on the last end to win by one shot at 19-18.

At a rain soaked Hitchin BC, it was hard work for Royston’s Brian Pepper, Charles Gifford, Michael Randall, and skip Rodney Dean against S Dawson in the L&D Fours. The opposing skip, on several occasions, assisted the Royston four by presenting them with some extra shots, which allowed the Dean team to wade home by 20 shots to 13.

Will Martin and Roger Neville travelled to the Stevenage Roebuck BC to compete in the National 55 and Over Pairs. The Roebuck duo didn’t put up much of a fight, as Royston cantered home to a 24-9 success.

In the Ladies North Herts Fours League played at Riverain BC, the Royston team were narrowly beaten. Yvonne Whitehouse led her team to a 19 -19 draw but Shirley Pawson’s rink couldn’t catch the Riverain four losing 23-17.

In the Meldreth & District League, Royston slumped to a narrow defeat against Coleridge BC losing 22-15, 20-11 and 21-9 on three rinks but it was skip Tony Williams who galvanised his rink of Beryl Huckle and Ron Colton to sprint home to a face-saving 29-4 win.

In the National Club Two Fours, Royston were at home to Barton-le-clay BC. Brian Pepper, Don Sheriff, Laurie Ramsay and skip Peter Adams eventually won 47-35

In the County Unbadged Singles, a disappointed Colin Wilson, who was left behind at the starting post in his match against S Wilson of Stevenage Town BC, subsequently suffering defeat.

It was a convincing win for Eileen Hyde in her ‘Hedgehog’ singles game against Pam Wilkinson from Aston. Eileen sauntered home to a 22 shots to 10 success.

Saturday 5th saw Royston play away to St Albans Townsend in a four rinks friendly.

This was yet another occasion when Royston scored just over double that of their opponents with a whopping 101 shots to just 50 against. Only one of Royston’s rinks failed to reach the 20s.

The stars were Ron Colton, Keith Blows, Peter Graves and skip Derek Goodwin who lived up to his name by producing a satisfying 36-9 win.

Royston’s Matt Coppen was in action on Sunday morning against Harry Wright from Sele Farm BC in the Champion of Champions competition. Although Coppen dropped two threes at one point, he took only 16 ends to drift home to a 21 shots to 11 triumph.