MALDON Bowls Club ladies' title hopes took a hit after a narrow defeat against Billericay, ending their outside chance of winning the league.
The match was part of the Chelmer Ladies League.
Maldon started strongly, with the rink of Sue Walker, Helen Philpott, and Sheila Wright racing to a commanding 14-3 lead after nine ends.
Meanwhile, the other rink, featuring Bobby Bruce, Pam Clack, and Cherry Richardson, found themselves in a tight contest, finishing the first half level at eight shots apiece.
This close battle continued, with the scores tied at 17 all after 18 ends.
As the match progressed, Billericay rallied, closing the gap to just one shot, with Maldon leading 18 to 17 going into the final end.
With only the skips left to bowl, Billericay held the shot and, in a dramatic turn of events, their skip drew another shot with the last bowl of the game.
This resulted in a two-shot gain for Billericay, sealing a 19-18 victory and handing them the match by a single shot overall.
Despite the loss, Maldon still has a chance to secure the runners-up position in the league, with two fixtures remaining.
Maldon also showcased its talent in the Chelmsford & District competitions, reaching five semi-finals with varied outcomes.
Tony Wallis triumphed over Peter Friend from Tillingham, winning 21-15 in the singles, while Andy Squire also secured a spot in the final by defeating Martin Goddard of Chelmsford 21-17.
The two will face off in an all-Maldon final at Stock on Sunday, September 13.
Upcoming events include the annual President versus Captain's fixture on Sunday, August 30 at 2pm.
The club finals are set for the weekend of September 5 and 6, with the schedule to be finalised soon.
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