The first Eastern Counties Regional Qualifier took place on Sunday at Towers Petanque Club, South Weald.
On a cold but fortunately dry day the favourites for the top positions came through unscathed. Vanessa Webb, Chris Allen & Michelle Tarbun lead the way being unbeaten throughout the days play. They did have a close call in their second game which was against Colne Angel, just scraping through 13-12 after a very long & tactical game.
Angel surprisingly only won 1 game and that was against Thorley from Bishops Stortford, who had a good day winning three. It was almost four but they lost out in a close game against BSA, 13-12.
Onley Arms PC from Stisted, started well winning their first two games, but father & son Trevor & Daniel Blows and Tracey Austin faded in the afternoon session.
Of the two Towers PC teams that entered, Towers 1 (John Cartwright, Bob Lawrence & Colin Roper) had the harder draw and it showed with them only winning 1 game. Eric Taylor, Peter Way & Barrie Lucas (Towers 2) fared better with 3 wins.
The Rayne Swan team of Vince Schofield, Adam Buxton & Lee Dodge will need to make a marked improvement if they are going to qualify in the top half of the table after a poor opening session, winning only one game.
In second place and 1 of only two teams to remain unbeaten, are Frank Britt, Graham McDougall & Simon Bird who were untroubled and won all their games comfortably.