ROYAL Wootton Bassett have been crowned the Four Rink League champions after winning the end of season play-off.

Bassett claimed a comprehensive 23-shot victory over Chippenham Town in their semi-final as they won three rinks and drawing on the other in their 80-57 success.

Steve Snell and Jeremy Hasleton rinks drew 17-17 while Dave Godwin’s quartet beat Steve Heseltine 21-10, Mel Biggs foursome beat Neil Connor 20-16 and Gary Morphet’s four beat Willie Jones 22-14.

In the final, Bassett faced Westlecot and claimed a 79-55 victory to seal the crown.

The teams were tied 16-16 overall after five ends with Bassett edging in front 37-33 at 10 ends.

But they had pulled away to lead 59-45 at 15 ends, were 73-53 up at 18 and finally won 79-55 to retain their title.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Barry Sictorness, Dave Snell, Chris Cheesley & Mel Biggs beat James Richman, Des Rideout, Kevin Carter & Jay Titcombe 20-13. Rink 2: James Nobbs, Hedley Bowen, Kyle Anderson & Steve Snell beat Dave Matthews, Phil Reade, John Thomas & Mike Shawyer 30-10. Rink 3: Andy Blake, Lawrence Smith, Terry Walton & Dave Godwin drew with Gerry Charman, Miles Roberts, Brian Whittingham & Mike Titcombe 17-17. Rink 4: Kevin Embling, Anthony Sprules, Craig and Gary Morphet lost to Keith Williamson, Paul Sloman, Ian Jefferies & Mike Jackson 12-15.

Score: RW Bassett beat Westlecot 79-55.

However, Bassett just missed-out on a second team title at the Bowls Wiltshire finals weekend after being edged out 79-73 by Box after drawing with them 2-2 on disciplines in the ladies Top Ten final.

RESULTS

Singles: Lucy Smith beat Jean Collier 21-17. Pairs: Ginny Nash & Patricia Murray lost to Karen Funnell & Alex Jacobs 16-21. Triples: Carol Pugh, Debbie Hatherall & Katy Smith lost to Lolly Braddon, Kathryn Yeoman & Sue Cooke 13-19. Fours: Barbara Twine, Doreen Croucher, Bev Williamson & Charlie Godwin beat Debbie Shadwell, Jane Taylor, Carol Grenfell & Michele Williams 23-22.

Score: Bassett drew 2-2 with Box but lost on shots 73-79.

Bassett men face Buckinghamshire’s Gerrards Cross in the quarter-finals of the national men’s national Top Club competition at Royal Leamington Spa on Saturday.

Should they progress the semi-finals and final will take place on Sunday.

MAISIE Daniel prevented Royal Wootton Bassett Ladies from ending the Bowls Wiltshire domestic finals empty handed.

The teenager won the ladies unbadged singles competition and title.

In the semi-finals, Daniel had a hard fought 15-12 win over Ellen Stiles (Devizes) before claiming a 15-5 success over Amesbury’s Louise Chastey in the final.

Chippenham Town, meanwhile, who lost to Bassett in the Four Rink League play-off semi-final, were defeated 46-14 by Holt in the Tourist Trophy double rinks final.

North Wilts trio Ann Greenland, Anne Roberts-Phare and Fizz Mace won their ladies county benevolent triples semi-final 15-5 against Trowbridge Town but lost in the final to Wroughton, who had also accounted for Josie Mulligan, Bev Lilley and Sheila Garlick (Devizes) 18-16 in the semi-finals, 14-7.

Devizes also lost on day one in the Bowls Wiltshire Officers Triples, going down 25-21 to Wanborough.

Alex Jacobs (Box) retaining her champion of champions crown with a 21-18 win over Wendy Anderson (Stratton Churchway).

Russell Francis won the county men’s champions of champions with a 21-16 victory over Haydon Wick’s Brian Lobley.

There was a rare success for the small membership bowls club at Mere.
Don Butcher and Richard Coombs combined to take the plaudits in the Bowls Wiltshire secretary and treasurers pairs event with a 25-13 victory over Swindon North End’s John Pheby and Keith Baker.

Holt were on the ball in the men’s county national championship final and in the men’s Tourist Trophy double rinks.

Wayne Simmonds, Wayne Snook and Ben Gadd edged home 21-20 on the last end of the men’s triples against fellow Holt players Rob Jeffreys, Pete Hardie and Justin Davis.

Gadd’s trio led 19-13 after 13 ends but then dropped a five but regrouped to grab a single on the 18th and last end for a one shot win.
Meanwhile Holt thumped Chippenham Town in the men’s Tourist Trophy 46-14 with the rink of Wayne Simmonds, Graham Archard, Justin Davis & Ben Gadd beating Jeremy Haselton’s rink 25-5 while Rod Summers, Kevin Oliver, Pete Hardie and Craig Doughty beat Neil Connor 21-9.

Another team title was one by a west Wilts side when Avon beat Swindon Supermarine comfortably 49-27 in the mixed double rinks.

The rink of Evelyn Tape, Sylvia Crabbe, Danny Holland & John Crowder won 24-14 over Roy Major while the quartet of David Alford, Georgina Newman, Marcia Hartley and Tom Newman beat Barry Sandry 25-13.

But Trowbridge Town’s Dave Betteridge lost 21-20 in the BW Greenkeepers singles to Brian Whittingham (Westlecot).

Betteridge was tied 4-4 after five ends, 10-6 down at 11, but recovered well to lead 18-13 at 22 and 20-14 at 24 ends.

However, he was stuck on 20 shots and could not clinch a match winning single losing the next five ends to go down 21-20 after a very hard fought 29 ends.