Second-placed Three Elms B travelled with high hopes of beating Essex Invitation Petanque League leaders Onley Arms but went away empty-handed.

In the triples, the hosts’ Trevor Blows, Lorne Gibson and Beryl Gibson lost the first two ends but dominated from then on with good shooting and pointing giving them a 13-2 win.

In the pairs, the Gibsons also ran up a 13-2 scoreline and while the singles was a closer game, Blows won 13-8.

Bocking hosted Billericay U3A and recorded a 2-1 win.

Trevor Turner, Pam Adams and David Adams won 13-9 in the triples and even though Turner was beaten 13-1 in the singles, the deciding doubles saw Ian Ruffle and David Adams win 13-8 in a close game.

Elsewhere, Three Elms A had a 2-1 win over Blackwater U3A.

In the first round of the cup, there were a trio of 3-0 away wins as Three Elms B won at Thorley, Onley Arms took the spoils at Three Elms and Billericay got the better of Blackwater.

FIXTURES: Cup semi-final draw: Bocking v Three Elms B, Onley Arms v Billericay U3A.