AN important quarter-final game in the County Team Ten competition was played at the Garston and although Royston were hoping for a win, playing away and with some of their bowlers away on tour it was going to be hard work. In the singles, Matt Coppen str

AN important quarter-final game in the County Team Ten competition was played at the Garston and although Royston were hoping for a win, playing away and with some of their bowlers away on tour it was going to be hard work.

In the singles, Matt Coppen struggled on a tricky green to just lose by five or six shots. The Pairs also lost by a similar margin, but put up a good fight.

The fours couldn't quite stem the scoring rate of their opponents and finished around 10 shots adrift. The triples were Royston's only success story, having a convincing win. This was a disappointing result for Royston, having had such a good run.

Another disappointing result for the local club, was their narrow defeat in the English Wills Trophy. They were up against the Holwell in the Area Final on the neutral green of Baldock. This was a close game, and the result was only decided in the last few ends of the game. The final outcome was a one shot victory for the Holwell team.

Royston ladies were at home to compete with the Riverain ladies in the North Herts League, consisting of two fours. The four of Anne Martin, Gillian Fisk, Eunice Dockree and skip Yvonne Whitehouse had a very satisfying win of 32 shots to 14.

The other four of Beryl Huckle, Eileen Hyde, Pat Smith and skip Evelyn Huffer were satisfied with a 16 all draw. Royston came out on top 48-30.

The Royston men were also in action on Monday in the North Herts Inter Club League, playing away at Roebuck in Stevenage. Skip Mick O'Flanagan found his team 11-3 down at the tenth end but managed to rally his troops - Colin Pawson, Peter Fisk and Laurie Ramsay - to stage a fightback in the second half, scoring 14 shots in just nine ends.

However, they allowed their opponents to score on the last two ends and failed by two shots to produce a victory with the score at 17-18.

Peter Adams, on the other hand, had an easier ride. At end nine, only nine shots had been scored in total, but at that point Stan Whitehouse, Don Sheriff and Derek Goodwin suddenly burst into life and the four galloped away scoring 26 shots in 11 ends to win 29-8.

On Tuesday, Royston's Gillian Fisk took on B Bone from Aston in the third round of the North Herts Hedgehog competition.

It was a close game with Fisk claiming the prize 21-20.

Another tight game was between Royston's Peter Adams and S Wilson from Stevenage Town in the Letchworth & District Singles.

It was nip-n-tuck throughout the game and on the last end (25th) Adams was holding a single counting bowl with Wilson having one bowl to play, There were some silent moments as Wilson's bowl progressed up the green with controlled weight, followed by a sigh of relief from Adams when Wilson's last bowl missed its target, giving him a 21-20 win.

In the North Herts Ladies Pairs, Royston's Shirley Pawson and Linda O'Flanagan had a slow start and dropped several shots behind their opponents from North Herts. With a determined effort, the Royston pair clawed their way back into the game in the second half and eventually came out 23-15 winners.

Royston's triple of Eddie Collins, Peter Fisk and skip Will Martin were at home to compete against Stevenage Town in the L&D Triples. For five ends there was very little between the two teams but then Royston changed up a gear.

Over the next 11 ends the Royston three scored 22 shots and conceded a paltry four. A triumph of 28 shots to 11.

The Royston Vets were in action against the Baldock Vets in a five rinks of mixed triples. This was an evenly matched game and although Royston won on one rink and drew on another the final score was Baldock 82 Royston 76.

The Vets were in action again on Thursday at home to Stevenage Town. This turned out to be an easy win as Royston strolled to a 104-49 triumph.

On Friday morning, Don Sheriff and Peter Adams prepared themselves to play in another round of the National Over 55's Pairs.

Their opponents were J Smith and D Cartwright from Herts BC. Sheriff and Adams started off well by claiming a four but then dozed until end seven when they scored 10 shots in six ends. Although the Herts duo came back in the second half, it wasn't enough to prevent Sheriff and Adams winning 19-13.

On Friday, the Royston ladies played away at the Roebuck in the North Herts League. This was a match where the score didn't represent the game. Although Royston played well, the opposition always seemed to have the upper hand, preventing Royston the chance to score.

Roebuck won 50-12.

Friday also saw the Cairns Cup being played and the away teams played at Riverain in Hitchin.

Both rinks witnessed a reversal of fortunes around the tenth end.

On rink two, Roger Davies, Will Martin and Peter Adams floundered on three shots while their opponents were on 14.

At this point they found new energy and scored 14 in just eight ends, running out 17-16 winners.

On rink three Brian Pepper, Peter Fisk and Roger Neville romped away to lead 17-3 on the tenth end.

Riverain then stepped up a gear and came back to within three shots, but Royston hung on and won 22-16.

The home teams overwhelmed their opponents. Stan Whitehouse, Bob Porter and Laurie Ramsay triumphed 33-9 while Mick O'Flanagan lead his team of Colin Pawson and Derek Goodwin won 29 -21.

Royston welcomed Ware on Saturday for a friendly. It was close with Royston winning on four rinks, drawing on another and losing on one. The overall score was Royston 121 Ware 101.

On Sunday Royston visited Whitethorn for a friendly. Royston were a little too friendly winning on only rink. The end result was a Whitethorn win 101-65.