CLACTON Indoor Bowls Club duo Marilyn Butler and Marilyn Crane were narrowly defeated in the national pairs zone final, played on a neutral green at Mid-Suffolk.

They were up against world indoor champion Katherine Rednall and partner Anna Chalk.

It was an extremely close game from the start and, despite only needing two shots going into the last end, the two Marilyns lost 16-11.

Meanwhile, a number of Clacton ladies' teams played at Harwich and District Indoor Bowls Club's Gala Day.

Twenty ladies' triples teams entered, including players from Happy Valley, Thorpe, Dovercourt, Thorrington, Harwich, Severalls, Colchester Ardleigh, Colchester and Chelmsford.

It was an all-day gala, with each team playing three games of six ends.

One of the Clacton teams - Sylvia Broadbent, Jean Taylor and Tracy Kinton - won their three matches with an overall shot difference of 22.

Happy Valley, who were runners-up, won their three matches with a shot difference of six.

Their team was made up of Margaret Smallbone, Wendy Behn and Jackie Flatman.

Meanwhile, in the over-60s men's County League, Clacton A played West Mersea A.

One team played at home and the other away.

Overall, Clacton won by 40 shots to 39.

Clacton B played Falcon B and lost by three shots overall, 43-40.

Clacton C played Essex County C and it finished 37-37.