EXPERIENCE counted as Witham Bowls Club's ladies opened their Essex County games with a defeat in the triples.

The team of Wendy Hutton, Gillian Wingrove and skip Joan Barrett faced a trio from Great Baddow skipped by Gill Polley and were unlucky to lose 19-14 as the opposition's experience came through.

Meanwhile, there has been a busy opening to the season for Witham's teams in the North West Essex League.

Witham A had a 6-2 win at Tiptree that followed their 8-0 win against Bocking Alliance B, while Witham B have won 8-0 against Tiptree B and Witham C beat Bocking Alliance D 6-2.

At Boreham, Witham lost 3-0 and there was also a 107-71 shots defeat to Ardleigh, where the top rink was Molly Ager, Gordon Barrett, Phil Baggarley and Derek Hunt.

This was followed by a 92-76 win against Great Baddow, where the top rink was Lennie Foyster, Doreen Ashworth and Derek Hunt and there was also a 83-70 win against Arclight.

Witham played against the Sputniks, who edged the game 92-90.

Witham's top rink was Mick Shelley, Peter Brown, Joan Barrett and skip Lennie Foyster.

It was a very entertaining game, with £91 made on the raffle, which will be going to the Sputniks charity.