PICKERING trio Nigel Watson, Paul Humphries and Tom Nairn beat 27 other teams to win the Malton Bowling Club Annual Triples Competition at East Mount.

Triples from Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Swinton, Welham, Pickering, Settrington, Huby and Malton took part in the two-day competition, with Watson's men seeing off Terry Bogg's triple from Welham in the final.

Watson's and Bogg's triples topped their respective pools to go into the final.

Some fine lead bowling by Humphries and Welham's Colin Tindall saw the scores move to 3-3 after five ends, and six ends later it was still all square at 7-7, with Nairn and Bogg battling well with shot changing frequently.

However, after taking the lead at the 12th, the Welham team gradually saw the game slip away from them, despite the best efforts of skipper John Chapman, as Watson played some outstanding shots to take seven points from the next four ends, the match ending 16-9.

Results: 1, N Watson's triple (Pickering); 2, T Bogg (Welham); 3, M Richardson (Kirkbymoorside); 4, J Ward (Kirkbymoorside); 5, J Goodman (Malton); 6, P Allen (Swinton); 7, K Thompson (Pickering); 8, B Turnbull (Kirkbymoorside).

Updated: 13:19 Thursday, July 26, 2001