A busy week of bowls action was led by plenty of games for Datchworth Bowls Club.

They had two Stevenage Mixed League games but fell to defeat in both, the first in agonising fashion as they lost 45-44 at home to Riverain.

Only one rink was victorious, that a 20-12 success for Barbara Williams, Richard Harper, George Campbell and Les Parsley, but the others were beaten by five shots, Janet Akers, John Spraggett, John Oliver and Steve Chamberlain losing the last four ends to go down 16-11, and four shots, Maureen Blunt, Ann Edwards, Ian Williams and Graham Akers coming back from 31-2 to lose 17-13.

The second game saw defending champions St Ippolyts beat them 57-34.

Again only one rink won, that of Jan Smith, Ian Tyler, George Campbell and Steve Arnold.

An East Herts League Division Three match for the Golds at home to Stevenage Reds was abandoned after six ends due to rain, the points shared, but Datchworth had better luck in county competitions.

The men beat Northaw & Cuffley 39-30 at home in the County League, with a rink win for Mike Mahoney, Richard Harper, Rob Hazeu and Les Parsley and a draw on the other.

They then moved into the of the County Team 10 tournament, beating Ware on three of the four disciplines.

Mahoney won the singles, Hazeu and Parsley the pairs and Oliver, Graham Akers, Arnold and Peter Hills in the fours.

They now go to Mill End in the round of 16.

Baldock Town, however, are out having lost narrowly away to Berkhamsted.

The hosts won on two disciplines and Baldock one. The other one was drawn.

The ladies lost 16-14 to Royston in the County League but the men beat Aston 49-23 in the men'sevent.

There was a 78-68 loss in a friendly to Fairfield but their one SML match brought maximum points in a 59-35 win over Howard Garden.

That was the second SML game for HGBC, the first having also ended in defeat away to Aston.

However, there was a good win over Royston in a midweek friendly, winning 59-40 and on all three rinks.

North Herts are still on a roll, taking their unbeaten run up to five.

The latest success came against Whitethorn and Shephalbury.

The clash at Whitehorn was close, North Herts finally getting the edge in a 63-61 success

Gill Crane and Rae Glenn played particularly well on the best winning rink, a 21-10 win.

Crane was also involved in the top rink in the home game with Shephalbury, one North Herts won 56-48.

Jeff Tebbutt led the triple, which also contained Lynne Brown, to a 22-9 triumph.

Whitethorn had two winning rinks in the loss, the best to the tune of 19-9.

They also had a defeat in a top 10 clash with Royston, winning on just one of the four disciplines.

However, the ladies had better fortunes as they beat Hitchin in the County League.

The 22-18 victory leaves them second in the standings.

And a game against Potton also went their way, winning on all four rinks and 102-40 overall.

After a run of four defeats, Knebworth returned to winning ways in a close match with Three Horseshoes.

The margin was small, 52-49, but it was enough to give Knebworth five of the six points available.

There has now been 51 Stevenage Mixed League matches played and Baldock Town remain top with 54 points form 11 matches.

St Ippolyts are nine points behind in second, having played a game less, while Howard Garden are third, eight points further adrift after 11 games played.

Five outstanding matches are awaiting a new date.