There were mixed fortunes for Halstead Courtauld Bowls Club’s men in the North West Essex League.

The A team won at home against Braintree C, with Pat Ashcroft, Brian Chadwick, Clive Cracknell winning 23-14, Tony Garrett, John Collyer and John Ovel winning 15-14 and Bernard Rust, Adrian Smart and Russell Harmour losing 24-18.

However, the B team suffered a heavy defeat by Castle Hedingham A. Despite winning the first two ends, Terry Bocking, Tony Jones and Gerry Cook lost 23-11, while Mike Bristow, Tony Hill and Terry Reynolds also started off well, but they hit a bad patch and the game ended in an 18-12 defeat.

Eric Marson, M Braithwaite and Roy Clemence had the best of the three rinks, winning 11 of the 18 ends played, but they suffered a 21-19 defeat.

There was success in the Sudbury Mixed Triples League, though, in a home game against Arclight.

Gerry Cook skipped Mike Bristow and Tess Pulfer to a 15-11 win. Bob Tuck, Betty Burrell and Tony Jones lost 21-13 and Terry Bocking, Lucy Barnes and skip Colin Tuxworth won 23-8.

The annual Men versus Ladies match saw the men win on three of the five rinks.

Eve Lock, Lin Samuel, John Collyer and John Ovel made an impressive start to Courtauld’s campaign in the Tony Allcock Over-60s National Mixed Doubles tournament, with a 26-6 win against Tiptree.

A 26-15 win for Margaret Dakin, Tony Garrett, Joan Howlett and Adrian Smart was enough to see Courtaulds advance comfortably through to the next round.