WILTSHIRE gave Somerset a late scare before the visitors secured a 121-118 win in their Liberty Trophy clash at North Wilts IBC on Saturday morning.

The home side trailed 106-92 with three ends remaining of their inter-county championship second round tie but fought back brilliantly and only just failed to take the match to extra ends.

With one bowl left, Dave Snell could have extended the match but his perfectly-played delivery saw the jack move agonisingly six inches too far, leaving him with two shots rather than the five he required.

The Moonrakers had lost to Somerset in the last two seasons in the Liberty Trophy but team boss Neil Smith, whose rink defeated Terry Perkins’ 20-14, saluted his side’s effort.

“I am very proud of the guys,’’ said Smith. “(It was) a great effort against a very good side, we certainly gave them a run for their money.”

l THE Wiltshire Indoor Bowls Association levelled the score for the county as they defeated their Somerset counterparts 115-100 at North Wilts on Sunday.

In an almost complete reversal of the Liberty Trophy match 24 hours earlier, it was the home side left stunned by a comeback from the visitors before they pulled away in the final three ends to seal victory.