WILTSHIRE men qualified for the semi-finals of the Middleton Cup at Leamington with a 117-109 win over Devon two weeks ago.

The selectors had originally named an unchanged side to face Hampshire in the inter-county championship semi-final on Saturday, August 2 but have been forced into one change, at lead, in the rink skipped by Mel Biggs .

Team manager Dave Snell explained: “We have had to make a change in the side due to Kyle Anderson attending his Graduation on the Friday evening in Brighton.

“So after long discussions with the selectors and Mel Biggs we have decided to bring in Craig Hatherall to lead in Mel's rink.”

What a game for Hatherall to make his Middleton Cup debut, an inter-county championship semi-final.

He should not be overawed by the occasion as he has played at Leamington in the national championships before competing twice in the Family Pairs Championship with his father Graham and finishing as runners-up last year.

WILTSHIRE TEAM 

Rink 1: Paul Kistle, Mike Richards, Ian Jefferies & Mike Jackson (all Westlecot).

Rink 2: Craig Hatherall (West), Justin Davis (Holt), Graham Hatherall & Mel Biggs (both West).

Rink 3: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Chris Cheesley, Dave Godwin (both WB) & Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton).

Rink 4: Gary Jackson (West), Craig Doughty (Holt), Steve Snell (WB) & Graham Shadwell (S Moulton).

Rink 5: Kevin Embling (West), Keith Bailey (Holt), Gary Morphet & Neil Smith (both WB).

Rink 6: Tom Warner, Nick Revell (both Amesbury), Wayne Snook & Ben Gadd (both Holt).