The Essex Invitation Petanque League’s second-placed side, Thorley, welcomed leaders Onley Arms and sent them home with a 2-1 defeat.
Onley’s Trevor Blows, Lorne Gibson and Beryl Gibson lost 13-11 in the triples.
In the singles, Blows led 7-1 but was pegged back in a 13-9 defeat, however, the Gibsons rescued a point with a 13-10 doubles win.
A third loss of the season for the Onley has opened the door to the title for Three Elms B, who can overtake the current leaders by winning their games in hand.
Elms B had a 2-1 win at Blackwater U3A, while Three Elms’ A team had a 3-0 win over bottom club Bocking Weavers, however, Bocking Spinners had a 2-1 win at Billericay U3A. Malcolm Smith, Trevor Turner and Ian Ruffle took the triples 13-10, before Ruffle and Smith then took the pairs 13-4.
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