BOCKING Boules had their best result to date in the Essex Invitation Petanque League as they had a 2-1 win against a strong Three Elms B team.

Darren Hutchins, Billy Williams and Geoff Cockwell lost 13-8 in the triples, but Mark Williams and Paul Griffin took the pairs 13-2 to set up a tense singles decider.

Bocking's Pat Brown was neck and neck with Elms' Paul Charman at 12-12.

The Bocking player appeared to have won the vital point by putting a boule on the coche, but Charman moved it to leave his own holding shot.

Not to be outdone, though, Brown hit the holding boule to take the point and the win.

Onley Arms enjoyed a 2-1 win against visiting Thorley.

The home trio of Ian Humm, Graham Hill and Trevor Blows did not enjoy too much luck in a 13-6 triples defeat, but Humm and Hill took the pairs 13-4 and Blows sealed the win with a 13-7 singles success.

Meanwhile, Little Totham Swan had a first-ever 3-0 win over Three Elms A and league leaders Billericay B lost out to their visiting A team, 2-1.

ESSEX PETANQUE LEAGUE

P F A Diff Pts

Billericay B 7 14 7 28 14

Thorley 8 13 11 16 13

Onley Arms 5 12 3 51 12

Billericay A 6 11 7 18 11

Bocking Spinners 5 9 6 26 9

Blackwater U3A 6 9 9 11 9

Three Elms B 4 8 4 42 8

Bocking BAH 7 7 14 -52 7

Swan Lt Totham 7 5 16 -68 5

Three Elms A 5 2 13 -72 2