The men of Harpenden and Batchwood bowls clubs went toe-to-toe in the county Team 10 competition - with the Harps hosts taking the spoils.

Nick Muir got them off to a good start with a 21-8 win in the singles against Brian Parkes but Batchwood levelled with a 20-7 victory in the pairs over Kevin Brazier and Neil Sharp.

The fours, skipped by Steve Maynard, finished 28-14 leaving the triples as the decider.

John Osborn's team knew they only had to avoid defeat by no more than 13 shots.

They did lose but only 18-14, meaning while the disciplines were shared, the shot score was 70-60 in Harpenden's favour and they will now host Mill End in the quarter-final.

In the London & South East Counties Mixed Four, Harpenden’s team of Viv Dale, Jennie McEvoy, Roy Polley and Steve Maynard won though to the area semi-final after a 15-7 win at Aylesbury Town.

They will be at home to either Gerrards Cross or West Ealing next month.

Townsend Bowls Club meanwhile were at Potters Bar in the quarter finals of the Bob Vise Trophy, named after the former district president.

Like the Team 10, the competition is decided over four disciplines and Townsend won on three of them.

Peter Thomson won the singles 21-13 at a time when the visitors held the upper hand in the other three games too.

But the triples of Bob Lawrie, Roger Potter and Alan Charran conceded seven shots in the final four ends to draw 13-13 while the quartet of Ian Forster, Mike Cowell, Andy Scarborough and Peter Armstrong saw a 14-3 lead evaporate into a 16-16 stalemate.

Fortunately the pairs of Robbie Ransted and Matt Pope did seize the victory to send Townsend through although even here there was a late charge by Potters Bar pulling a 17-1 deficit back to a 20-9 defeat.

Townsend had a weekend encounter with Metroplitan Police Bushey but came through with a 55-43 win.

Top performers were Jean Marriott, Bob Padget and Scarborough who won 24-9.