Halstead Courtauld Bowls Club’s ladies narrowly missed out on progressing through to the next round of this year’s Top Club competition with a loss at Colchester.

Janet Crisp, Margaret Partridge, Lin Samuel and Becky Simmonds played an inspiring game to win 34-14 on the fours rink.

However, Joan Howlett lost 21-10 to a strong opponent in the singles, while the pairs saw Eve Lock and Janet Brooks defeated 19-17 and there was a 21-14 loss on the triples rink for Lucy Barnes, Marion Britton and Margaret Dakin.

The club’s ladies made a bad start in the North West Ladies Triples League as they suffered losses both home and away to Witham.

However, Marion Smith, Betty Burrell and Margaret Dakin won 20-16 and Margaret Partridge, Sheila Braithwaite and Joan Howlett won 19-9 at home to Tiptree in a friendly fixture.

In the North West Essex League, Halstead men’s A team fought a close battle at Castle Hedingham A and ended up drawing 4-4. Colin Tuxworth, Adrian Smart and Russell Harmour lost 18-16 and Stan Jones, John Collyer and John Ovel lost 15-14, but a 17-9 win for Pat Ashcroft, Tony Garrett and Brian Chadwick earned the draw. The B team faced Braintree C but continued their run of bad form with a 6-2 defeat.

Eric Marson, Malcolm Braithwaite, Geoff Hughes lost 24-8 and Mike Bristow, Bob Tuck and Roy Clemence lost 21-14, but Terry Bocking, Tony Jones and Gerry Cook won 21-16.

The county double fours game for the B team, against Saffron Walden, resulted in losses both home and away.

Courtauld’s were victorious in their friendly at home to Bocking Alliance, but they could only manage a win on one rink against Witham.

In the Sudbury Mixed Triples League, Halstead continued their impressive form with a 6-2 win at Mistley.