Convincing win sees Fisk through to next round

Royston's Gillian Fisk made her way to the third round of the Ladies Singles Hedgehog competition on Friday.

She completely outplayed her opponent, M Lane, at Aston BC to emerge the winner by 21 shots to three.

On Monday, July 13, Colin Pawson and Derek Goodwin took on G Waugh and D Edington, from the Shephalbury B.C, at home in the Letchworth & District Pairs.

The game started off with both teams in close combat, but towards the latter stages things took on an unusual twist. At end 15, Pawson and Goodwin were 10-12 down.

On end 16 they clinched a four to take them 14-13 up. At end 19 they claimed a five to extend their lead to 20-13 up.

On the 20th end the wheels fell off and they dropped seven shots to go into the last end at 20 shots apiece. At this point, the Shephalbury duo gained one shot to claim the game at 21 shots to 20.

On the same day, Royston's triple of Brian Pepper, Stan Whitehouse and skip Rodney Dean, were at home to confront M Hancock, S Wilson and A Bratherton from the Stevenage Town B.C, in the Letchworth and District Triples.

The Dean team were slow to get started but, after a change in jack length, edged back to draw level at 12 shots each on the 15th end.

On end 16, Bratherton pulled one back to go one shot up at 12-13. Dean responded with two shots on the next end to once more gain the lead. On the last end - the 18th - Dean hung onto a precarious shot bowl which was no more than half an inch from the jack.

Bratherton tried hard with running woods to alter the head of bowls which were gathered in front of the shot bowl, but failed. Royston had reached the line by just two shots with the score at 15 shots to 13.

Also on Monday was the North Herts Ladies Triples. Royston's Gillian Fisk, Eileen Hyde and Eunice Dockree, played a very positive game against a trio from the North Herts B.C, skipped by J Davey, to win by 10 shots.

Royston were away on Tuesday to play a three mixed triples Vets game against Buntingford.

Two of the four rinks drew, and Margret Ward led her team to a 23-12 win. But the stars of the day were Beryl Huckle, Terry Lovegrove, and super skip Derek Goodwin, who, after dropping an eight on end 13, pulverised their opponents with a 31-12 triumph leaving the final overall score 87-57 to Royston.

The Royston triple of Simon Lee, Stewart Brown and Matt Coppen were hopeful of success in the semi-finals of the County Triples, which were played on the neutral green of the Ware B.C.

Their opponents were J Head, M Yelland, and M Coles, from the Garston B.C. It was a closely fought competitive game, as one would expect at this stage of the competition.

The Royston trio were slow to get into gear, but on the 13th end, Coppen delivered a perfect bowl to move the jack back and grab four shots, which pulled them back into the game.

In the end, Royston required four shots to draw and force an extra end but, in an attempt to adjust the jack position, Coppen just clipped the jack which drifted nearer to an opposition bowl and they went one down.

The Royston trio had put up a good showing, but were disappointed not to have reached the final.

In the Ladies North Herts Pairs played on Wednesday, it was two Royston teams that confronted each other.

This was a close game which ended in a win for Linda O'Flanagan and Shirley Pawson, over their opponents Maureen Gisby and Gillian Fisk, by just 16 shots to 14 against.

Royston ladies came up against Whitethorn B.C ladies on Wednesday in the North Herts League. This consisted of two triples, and was played at Whitethorn.

It turned out to be a game that got away, as Royston were outplayed on both rinks to lose 19 shots to 38.

Mel Flack and Don Sheriff were in action on Wednesday evening in the Letchworth and District North Herts Pairs.

Their opponents were S Wills and W Taylor, from the Stevenage Town B.C. The Royston pair scored at a steady pace throughout and triumphed with a 20 shots to 11 victory.