Graham bids to be champion of champions

9:06am Saturday 5th July 2008

GRAHAM HATHERALL bids for a place at Worthing in the final stages of the National Champion of Champions tomorrow, writes DAVE EATON.

The Westlecot member and former England under 25 international has reached the regional finals of the competition and been drawn to play at Atherley Bowls Club, Southampton (9.45am).

Eight regional finals will be held around England tomorrow, including one at Atherley and Topsham (Devon) which will feature Wiltshire's Graham Shadwell who qualified from the lower half of Area 16 but has opted out of all county matches this year.

Hatherall, pictured, came through a very competitive top half of Area 16.

In his opening game he beat Alan Gough (Stratton Churchway) 21-15 and then followed up with a 21-18 win over Westlecot teammate Mike Jackson.

Hatherall then saw off the challenge of Purton's Ray Sowden 21-15, a repeat of last year's county champion of champions final. And in round four he beat Corsham's Robert Laws 21-15 to book his place in the regional finals.

Eight players will compete at Atherley - Neil Gauld (Tilehurst, Berks), Malcolm Addison (Newport, IoW), Derek Place (Brockenhurst, Hants), Peter Carter (Newick, Sussex), Kenneth Beaney (St Leonards, Sussex), Keith Gerrard (Rowner, Hants), Hatherall and James Marshland (Aldershot Traction, Hants).

The winners from the eight venues will book a place at Worthing in mid-August.

Hatherall faces Marshland in his first game and if successful will play either Beaney or Gerrard.

• TODAY Hatherall will be playing for Wiltshire in their final Middleton Cup group match at Chippenham Town against Devon.

It is a tough game as Devon head the South West group with three wins out of three while Wiltshire lost heavily away to Cornwall, drew at home with Somerset and beat Dorset in their last match.

The Moonraker county can mathematically qualify for the quarter-finals of the Middleton Cup, but realistically they can have a say in who reaches the last eight in the inter-county championship. If they were to upset Devon, the current holders, then they could open the door for Cornwall who play basement team Dorset today.

The Wiltshire selectors have made four changes to the line-up to face Devon.

Wayne Simmons (Holt) is replaced at lead in Steve Snell's rink by Westlecot's Paul Kistle. And only Ben Gadd remains in the Russell Francis rink that suffered a 31-11 drubbing.

Wayne Snook, Paul Macdonald and Francis are replaced by Tony Keating, Miles Roberts (Westlecot) and Hatherall, who was unavailable for the Dorset match.

WILTSHIRE TEAM Rink 1: Michael Richards (Westlecot), Chris Cheesley (Purton), Gary Morphet (Rodbourne Cheney) and Neil Smith (Westlecot).

Rink 2: David Godwin (Chippenham Town), Des Rideout (W'lecot), Michael Snell (Wootton Bassett) and Mark Dyer (W'lecot).

Rink 3: Kevin Embling, John Thomas, Ian Jefferies and Mike Jackson (all W'lecot).

Rink 4: Paul Kistle (W'lecot), Keith Bailey (Holt), Keith Hutchens (Westinghouse) and Steve Snell (WB).

Rink 5: Tom Walkley (WB), Micky Crook (Amesbury), Ian Williams (Purton) and Dave Snell (WB).

Rink 6: Tony Keating (Spencer Moulton), Miles Roberts (W'lecot), Ben Gadd (Holt) and Graham Hatherall (W'lecot).

Reserves: Wayne Snook (Holt), Paul Macdonald (S Moulton).

• WILTSHIRE meet Cornwall tomorrow in the South West Counties League.

The senior side travel to Tiverton for the game while the under 25s will play elsewhere in Devon at Culm Vale.

• SWINDON & District Men's Bowls Association led by president Bob Scammell continue their series of representative matches when they play Southampton & District tomorrow at Hyde Abbey BC, Winchester.

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