There was pride in among the disappointment for Shire Park Bowls Club (Tewin).

Their yellow team lost a very close final of the John Brown Trophy against Welwyn & District at Hertford.

Linda Draycott, Steve Calladine and skip Bill Draycott lost by one shot, after dropping a six on one end, while Elaine Wulcko, Dave Warner and skip Gus Edwards lost by four shots, to give an overall defeat by five.

In the only friendly Shire Park lost away to Townsend with the top rink that of Janet Brown, Bill Griffith and Gus Edwards who won 19-12.

The club's own triples cup was fought out by eight teams with Martin Taylor, Terry Crane and Ian Kirsch making it to the final alongside Catriona Griggs, Chris Wright and Edwards.

Datchworth were enjoying their 2024 tour to Torquay with the first of our games against the eponymous club of the town.

They were beaten by 125 shots to 106 but did win three of the seven rinks played, the best of them a 20-12 success for Barbara Williams, Jean Curtis, George Campbell and Peter Hills.

The following day brought a 110-110 draw with Bitton Park at Teignmouth.

this time there were four wins and a draw from the seven played, the top rink belonging to Linda Tyler, Sandra Greenhall, Ian Green and Hills who won 22-11.

Game three of the tour saw a 119-67 loss against Totnes, the only success for Datchworth on the six rinks being Janet Akers, Jim Whittle, Keith Smith and Chris Hills.

That saw them pick up five shots on the last end to win 18-17.

Thursday’s match against Babbacombe was called off due to expected bad weather but Datch did play a two hour timed game against Coventry & District at the indoor facility at the Torquay Leisure Hotel complex, where both were staying.

It ended in a 50-45 defeat with the best rink an 8-8 draw for Pauline Whybrow, Alan Curtis, Barbara Williams and Ken Greenhall.

Back home, Datchworth travelled to Holwell for a SML match, one they lost 54-42 despite two rink wins, the best of them to Lucy Williams, Howard Carrick, Ian Williams and Derek Henley, 18-11.

A second SML match of the weekend at Royston also ended in defeat, losing 59-37 with the top rink that of Dickie Jackson, Ann Edwards, Ian Williams and Derek Henley who won 18-17.

Two Potters Bar rinks played in the final of the East Herts Bowls League Ransom Cup but were defeated by Welwyn & District.

Bar also had mixed fortunes in the finals of the St Albans & District Bowling Association.

The men’s matches were held at Harpenden on Saturday and Potters Bar lost to Welwyn Garden City in the final of the Triples League.

However, the 2 woods triples team of Colin Malone, Dave Sparrow and Paul Stevens won their final against North Mymms while Keith Lucas, Brian Clark and Alan Oldham took the 3 woods crown.

Malone did lose to Phil Russell of Welwyn & District in the singles though.

The ladies played at North Mymms on Sunday.

The Potters Bar ladies' triples of Gill Marshall, Diane Berry and Penney Billington won their final against Batchwood by four shots while Marshall's Australian Pairs final with partner Pam Rodgers was delayed.