BOCKING Poachers have opened a lead at the top of division one of the Essex Invitation Petanque League after a 2-1 win at home to Billericay Lakes.

Mark Williams, Paul Griffin and Pat Brown took the triples 13-9 and while Lakes took the pairs, Brown sealed the match with a 13-11 singles victory.

Three Elms G went second with a 2-1 home win over Bocking Boules.

Callum Finn and Darren Hutchins claimed the pairs 13-7 for Boules, but Billy Williams was beaten 13-2 in the singles as Three Elms completed the match victory after also taking the triples.

In division two, Blackwater U3A had a 2-1 win at Broomfield FC.

In a close triples, Blackwater's Ron Martin, Peter Harden and John Guiver beat Trevor Blows, Tracy Chambers and Nikki Parrish 13-11, before Parrish and Yvonne Game lost out 13-9 to Ken Hardy and Guiver in the pairs.

Blows gained a point for the home side, though, with a 13-6 win over Harden.

Wethersfield Jetts top the division after a 3-0 won over Three Elms Q.

Ryan Cook played well to take his singles 13-4.

Wethersfield Hopps are chasing their club-mates after a 3-0 win over Little Totham Swan.

They took the triples and the pairs 13-7 and Kim Speed wrapped it up with a 13-12 win against Swan skipper Steve Read.