Bowlers from Greenwood Park and Harpenden helped Hertfordshire to a narrow 21-19 victory, keeping their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Inter-County Championship well and truly alive.

The match, held at the Royal Russell School, Croydon, saw Herts trail 15-13 going into the final session.

London extended that by taking one win and the bonus point in the triples to lead 19-15 with just the reverse fours to go.

Knowing they had to win both of the fours game, and take the bonus point for winning on aggregate, Hertfordshire got off to a good start.

Harpenden’s Pauline Taylor and Greenwood Park’s Brian Fowler, along with Peter Griffiths and Darren Stanford, led throughout their game.

They scored on ends three to seven and were 13-1 up with four ends remaining.

London did make a fight of it but could only narrow the gap to seven, losing 13-8.

That tied the aggregate score for the fours at 31-31, meaning whoever won the last game would claim the overall match for their side.

Harpenden’s John Taylor was involved along with Rebecca Nightingale, Margaret Hare and Bill Gearing and they struck a decisive blow with five shots in the 4th end and led 8-4 with four ends to go.

A winning three-shot penultimate end helped Herts to a 12-7 success.

Also involved in the squad were the Greenwood Park pair of Audrey Fowler and Jill Oakes.

The win leaves the county top of group seven with just one game, the return fixture against London on Sunday at Elm Court Community Centre, Potters Bar, to go.

Hertfordshire team: Michael West, Mary Chadd, Brian McGivern, Cherry Nolan, Alan Spicer, Ted Nolan (Cuffley Hall), Alan Hare, Sam Salmon, Peter Griffiths, Margaret Hare, Bill Gearing (Letchworth), Audrey Fowler, Jill Oakes, Brian Fowler (Greenwood Park), Tony Gayler, Jeanette Gayler, Darren Stanford, Rebecca Nightingale (St Margaret’s), Pauline Taylor, John Taylor (Harpenden).