BOWLS: It was a long trek for Writtle A when they played Southminster A away in the Chelmsford and District Bowling League. Skip Derek Cook, Ron Horncastle, Rod Whiteman and Peter Horn led from the start and scored steadily and were 15 shots to six on the 12th end.

Southminster won the next five ends and were within four shots of Writtle. However, Writtle ran out winners by 22 shots to 15, helped by a good four shot win on the last end. Skip Mike Fell, Peter Groves, David Spence and Terry Arthur got off to a slow start and found themselves down by 13 shots to three on the 11th end. Writtle pulled back winning the next six ends bringing the score to 11 shots to 13 and just two shots behind Southminster.

Southminster only added another shot to their overall score and Writtle bowled well to win by 19 shots to 14.

It was a very close game on the third rink with Skip Paul Brandis, Mike Wakeling, Bill Martin and David Franklin just trailing Southminster until the 13th end when Writtle just nudged ahead with 17 shots to 14.

By the the 17th end Writtle were 20 to 19 and victory could have gone to either team. However, Southminster prevailed with the final score being Writtle 21 shots and Southminster 22. Overall Writtle scored eight points and Southminster two.

Writtle B team were at home to Burnham B and it was to prove an evening of very mixed results for the team.

Skip Peter Jarvis, Graham Jupp, Ted Marsh and John Drake found themselves level at six shots each at the eighth end with Burnham winning the next three ends.

Writtle then scored really well and by the 16th end were 20 shots to nine in the lead.

Writtle continued to dominate and won by a comfortable 28 shots to 11.

Skip Peter Pearce, Cedric Ashford, Bob Harvey and John Marsh were involved in a very close game where, until the ninth end, Writtle looked comfortable. Burham won the next three ends and secured a 15 shots to 10 advantage.

Writtle came back and on the 18th end trailed by just two shots at 15 to 17.

However, Burnham took the victory at 21 shots to 17.

Skip Roger Day, Andy Archer, Roy Youngs and John Jones had an extremely disappointing evening and struggled to find their form.

This was reflected in the final score which was Writtle 11 shots with Burnham on 33.

Writtle scored two points with Burham taking eight.