CENTRAL were left shell-shocked as they were defeated by a single shot to Clayhall in a tense first round of the County Shield competition.

The Wanstead-based bowls club won three of the four rinks contested but a disastrous final rink where they dropped 19 shots saw them lose the game 10-30 and this was enough to send Clayhall through.

Central also lost to Loughton in the Foresters Triples League when they went down by an overall 58-68 shots after winning two rinks, losing a rink and drawing a rink.

Their miserable form in the Ilford and District League continued as Central succumbed to an overall 50-59 shots defeat to Barley, after winning only one of three rinks contested.

To cap it all Central's game against the Royal British Legion failed to occur because of a misunderstanding between the clubs which led to them turning up at the wrong venues. The Group Triples League is now investigating the matter.

But Central's luck changed against Woodford when they won by an overall 47-33 shot victory in a Redbridge Afternoon League fixture.

Central's B team were also victorious beating Durants Park C side by 22-18 shots in the Walthamstow and District Thursday Afternoon 'Fours' League.

The C team also won against Central's A team in the same competition.

Central's Rod Hudson and Paul Whellams reached the Area Final of the 'Pairs' after defeating Ian Robertson and Alan Carter from Wanstead while in the 'Triples' Bob Druce, Rod Hudson and Paul Whellams reached the Area Final after defeating a trio from Salamander.

Meanwhile, Bantham and Ongar won by six shots winning overall 49-43 at home against Hutton Poplar in the Chelmsford and District League.

But their luck vanished when they were defeated by an overall 55-88 and lost all rinks away to King George's in the Brentwood and District League.

There was also no success in the Essex and Herts League when Bantham and Ongar lost all rinks away to Bishop's Stortford and they were convincingly beaten by Griffin, also loosing all rinks, in the first game of the Harlow and District Ladies Triples League.

Wadham won all three rinks against Higham Hill in the Foresters League and they took three of the four rinks against Woodford in the same competition.

But rink honours were shared with Chingford with Wadham winning on shots 43-32.