Harpenden Bowling Club will play in both the county and national finals after a strong performance saw them past Garston.

The team of Kevin Brazier, Woodie Donoghue and Nick and Tom Muir secured their side’s place in the county final against Royston, at Bishop's Stortford on July 31 before they begin the national championships at Leamington on August 21, where they will play Sussex A.

Elsewhere, Roy Polley, Steve Maynard and Doug Hall recovered from 12-4 down in the opening round of the District Triples against Welwyn and District to win 22-16.

Jenny Radford and Beryl Birch are also through to the next round of the Ladies’ County Pairs with a 23-12 win over Potters Bar, but Pauline Taylor and Val Thomson were narrowly beaten 21-19 by Oak Hill.

Harpenden Ladies hosted Batchwood in a home friendly and ran out 40-35 winners.

St Albans Bowls Club took three of four rinks at Harperbury last week to win 83-58 in a mixed friendly.

Mike Jefferies, Trevor Ewer, Joyce Wilson and John Bartlett enjoyed the pick of the victories, taking their rink 20-8.

On Saturday, the team were again winners as they beat Hitchin Town 77-70.

The top rink score of 26-10 came from Andy Kay, John Saguiez, Eileen Englebright and Rod Perks.

The team then completed a trio of successes the following day to defeat Harpenden 71-59 in a four-rink mixed triples match.

John Bartlett and Steve Wilson also progressed to the third round of the county pairs with a 22-11 win at Potters Bar, while Pauline Gardiner and Tricia Gascoine did likewise in the National Women’s Pairs, beating Sawbridgeworth 20-15.

But the female duo then fell to defeat in the county pairs at Harperbury, going down narrowly 18-16.

Wilson and Kevin Hull enjoyed a better result in the national men’s pairs, winning 18-12 at Welwyn and District.

In the national mixed pairs, Alex Turner and Tricia Gascoine were beaten in the third round 21-12 at Rosedale.