Townsend Bowls Club produced a sensational fightback to reach the semi-final of the district triples.

The trio of Andy Scarborough, Les Perkins and Alan Charran trailed 15-8 going into the final end against North Mymms, needing an unlikely seven shots just to force an extra end.

Scarborough put his three bowls beside the jack and Perkins, faced with a choice of drawing or covering behind, did both.

They were holding four at this point but Charran still needed to draw a further three.

But with no effective response from his opponent, that is exactly what happened, levelling the score at 15-15.

And with the Mymms players in a state of shock, Townsend won the extra end to reach the last four.

Three rinks of Townsend bowlers visited near neighbours Batchwood for a District League encounter, with Townsend returning with two rink wins and the overall success.

Each rink score was extremely close though.

Robbie Ransted, Matt Stuart-Reid, Bob Lawrie and Peter Thomson won by two shots, having overtaken their hosts on the final end, while Scarborough, John Connelly, Roger Potter and Charran won by three, claiming seven shots over the last four ends.

The final Townsend foursome were leading by two but conceded a three to the final shot of the final end.

However, they won overall by four shots.

Harpenden ladies have an area final to look forward to as well.

Playing in the south-east bracket of the county league, despite a loss to Hatfield in their latest match.

It will also be played at home on September 1.

One bowl and a measure was the difference for Nick Muir and Jennie Redford in the final of the London & Southern Counties mixed pairs.

Finishing in darkness, with the only illumination coming from the clubhouse, they were beaten by Newport Pagnell in an extra end.

Harpenden's ladies also had success and disappointment in the district double rink competition.

They came through their quarter-final against St Albans thanks to a 19-shot success, most of them coming from the home rink of Beryl Driscoll, Lyn Roberts, Carol Glanfield and Redford, although the away rink of Denise Moores, Alison Low, Jenny McEvoy and Linda Brooks did win by a shot.

However, the semi-final was where their run ended against an inspired North Mymms side, who barely put a bowl wrong on the night.

Harpenden did stay in touch on their home rink though, only losing 14-12 on the final end.

St Albans' men enjoyed victory over Harpenden in a triples match, winning on three of the four rinks and drawing the other.

The ladies played a two-triple friendly against Parkside, winning 20-14 on one rink but losing the other 23-15 to suffer a 37-35 defeat overall.

A mixed triples friendly at Beech Hill closded out the week, St Albans winning on three of the four rinks again.

The best of them was Ray Hancock, Irene Humphrey and Ramiro Rodriguez as they won 76-60 overall.