The Essex Petanque League played an Inter League match at Bocking against the Chiltern Leagues. It was the first of three for the winter season and the away teams proved too strong for the home side.
EPL ‘A’ lost the first triple 13-2; good shooting by the Chiltern players was the main factor. The EPL hit back with a very good mixed triple win. Tom Winter and Tracey Austin pointed well, with good shooting by Adam Buxton and the opposition of Myra Huntley, Adrian Emson and Simon Doble didn’t get a look in, losing 13-3.
Next came three sets of doubles. The home side were again successful in the mixed pairs with Austin, partnered by Dean Middleton, defeating Myra and Jeremy Huntley 13-4. But the other two games were won by the Herts players 13-0 and 13-12.
The last two triples games were both away wins, with Dean Little, Keith Flack and Austin all playing well but just unable to clinch the win, losing 13-9. Harry Waldie, Viv Sams and Middleton just didn’t point well enough and lost out 13-3 after good shooting from Simon Doble saw the Chiltern team through to a 5-2 overall win.

The EPL ‘B’ team were evenly matched with their Chiltern opponents but it was the visitors who started strongly in the triples round.
Ian Humm teamed up with Trevor and Daniel Blows and despite some good play, the opposition always had the upperhand, winning 13-5. The second triple saw Wendy Ridehalgh, Lorne and Beryl Gibson trail for most of the game. They pulled it back to 12-12 before losing the vital last point to Charlotte Simmons, Neil Dilley and Gordon Ansell.
The EPL faired better in the doubles round. The Gibsons trailed early on but finished strongly to win 13-11. Ridehalgh and T. Blows also trailed but with Ridehalgh pointing well they started to gain points. Blows shot out the opposition at two vital ends and it was enough to take them to a 13-7 win.
Humm and D. Blows produced a good performance but they just fell short, losing to nine against Brian Howarth and Peter Wright.
The EPL needed to win both triples in round three. B. Gibson continued her good pointing form and with T. Blows hitting good shots throughout the game and Ridehalgh finishing strongly after a poor start, the EPL triple edged out Wright, Fordham and Simmons 13-11. Humm, D. Blows and L. Gibson were outplayed 13-6 by Howarth, Gentry and Dilley to leave the final result at 4-3 to the Chiltern side.

It was an enjoyable day’s play and the experience of playing against the stronger opposition can only benefit the Essex players and hopefully they will continue to improve for the away game to be held at Letchworth in December.