WILTSHIRE men made a fine start in this season’s Liberty Trophy (inter-county championship) with an excellent first-round win over Oxfordshire.

They beat their neighbours by 22 shots (127-105) in the first round tie staged at home at Westlecot.

The Moonrakers side, including 15 of the 24-strong team from host club Westlecot, used home advantage to the full.

They took the honours on four of the six rinks, with player-manager Neil Smith leading the way with his foursome of Jordan Moody, Tom Pittuck, Phil Gregory and himself roaring to a 19-shot victory.

They were followed by fellow Westlecot player Kyle Anderson who made a winning debut as a county indoor skip with a 10 shots winning margin, the same margin as young Mike Titcombe recorded

The fourth and final victorious rink was an all-Five Rivers, Salisbury, affair led by Tom Warner (11 shots).

In round two Wiltshire have been drawn away against Worcestershire at Malvern Hills (TBC) on December 16 (10am).

RESULTS

Rink 1: Jordan Moody. Tom Pittuck, Phil Gregory & Neil Smith (all Westlecot) beat Andrew Docherty 31-12. Rink 2: James Richman, Mike Richards, Mel Biggs & Mike Titcombe (all West) beat Andy McIntyre 29-19. Rink 3: Steve Snook, Darren Anteney (both North Wilts), Nick Revell (Five Rivers,Salisbury) & Andy Moore (Christie Miller, Melksham) lost to Mark Charlett 12-19. Rink 4: Kevin Embling, Craig and Graham Hatherall & Ian Jefferies (all West) lost to Scott Edwards 10-32. Rink 5: Tom Newman (CM), Terry Walton, Dave Godwin & Kyle Anderson (all West) beat Paul Sharman 23-12. Rink 6: Ashley Plumb, Jamie Reynolds, Fraser Boynton & Tom Warner (all Five Rivers) beat Mark Styles 22-11.

Score: Wiltshire beat Oxfordshire 127-105.

WESTLECOT are through to the second round of the Egham Trophy (mixed inter-club national championship) despite taking the honours on only one of four rinks against Thornbury.

The Old Town club’s away foursome of Jayne Croston, Sheila Kenny, Kevin Embling and Chris Cheesley were the club’s heroes, with a 17-shot (30-13) triumph at Thornbury leading the victory charge.

That wiped out the losses sustained by skips Mel Biggs (seven shots) and Mike Titcombe (four) at home plus the narrow away loss of Phil Gregory (three), on the other three rinks to give Westlecot an overall victory of 80-77.

Westlecot move forward to round two and an away meeting with Malvern Hills (Wocestershire) on Sunday, November 12, who beat Cotswold 76-72 in the previous round.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 1: Sue Fletcher, Lynda Whittingham, Tom Pittuck & Mike Titcombe lost to Jeff Lowden 19-23. Rink 3: Wendy Anderson, Janet Willis, Dave Snell & Mel Biggs lost to James Wood 18-25.

Away - Rink 3: Lucy and Katy Smith, Terry Walton & Phil Gregory lost to Jeff Cooper 13-16. Rink 4: Jayne Croston, Sheila Kenny, Kevin Embling & Chris Cheesley beat Tony Ives 30-13.

Score: Westlecot beat Thornbury 80-77.

WESTLECOT bowlers have had differing results in the national Champion of Champions event.

Katy Smith is through to the semi-finals in Area 14 following wins over Diana Wright (Carterton) and Jacky Gray (Oxford City & County).

She will play Carole Galletly (Banbury Cross) or Katherine Hawes (Oxford & District) in the semi-finals by November 26.

Westlecot’s Neil Smith went out of the men’s Area 14 Champion of Champions in the opening round, losing a tight game 21-19 away against Slade (Bucks) representative Andy Hunt.

THE senior county team, after a four-season break, re-entered the Over 60 inter-county championship but fared no better than their predecessors.

They slumped to a heavy 126-79 defeat at the hands of Dorset - the match being conceded after only 18 ends with Wiltshire well adrift.

Wiltshire only tasted success on one of the three home rinks at Swindon Westlecot, but lost badly on the three away in Dorset at Dolphin (Poole).

Moonrakers lone victory came from the foursome of Geoff Smith, Brian Coles, Terry Walton and Mel Biggs who beat wily campaigner Barry Patterson’s rink 18-11.

Otherwise it was five defeats. John Thomas’ four lost at home 7-18 while Martin Salter’s quartet went down 16-24.

While in Poole Graham House lost 15-20, Stewart Allison 13-22 and Maurice Byron 10-31.

SIX WESTLECOT players are named in the Wiltshire team to compete in the national U25 inter-county championship double rinks competition.

They have been drawn away against Dorset at Dolphin IBC (Poole) on Sunday, November 19 (10am).

The sextet are James Richman, Phil Gregory, Mike Titcombe, George Twine, Craig Hatherall and Kyle Anderson. The remaining two spots are filled by Five Rivers Jordan Moody and Christie Miller’s Tom Newman.

TEAM

Rink 1: Jordan Moody (FR), James Richman, Phil Gregory & Mike Titcombe (all West). Rink 2: Tom Newman (CM), George Twine, Craig Hatherall and Kyle Anderson (all West).

A BUSY weekend is ahead for Westlecot sides in national inter-club team championship events.

Today the ladies enter the fray in the Yetton Trophy when they meet Oxford City and County (10am) while the men face Thornbury in the second chance (consolation) Denny Plate competition.

Both games are two rinks at home at Westlecot and two away in Oxford (ladies) and Thornbury (men).

Tomorrow, (Sunday) Westlecot travel to Clevedon to face the Somerset coastal club in the mixed Top Club national competition.

In the previous round at home Westlecot beat another Somerset side Nailsea 10pts to six pts taking the honours on the men’s two wood singles (two points) and in the mixed pairs and mixed fours (four each).

Meanwhile the Westlecot senior men’s side should have been in first round action on Tuesday in the Over 60s double rinks competition but opponents Brackley (Northants) have conceded the tie.

Westlecot therefore progress to the next round and a meeting on November 28 with either Banbury (Oxon) or Foxhill (Aylesbury, Bucks).

Swindon Manor ladies and men’s side both have competitive games this weekend.

The women are Manor’s only representatives this 2017/18 season in national team competitions and meet Reading side Rivermead in the second round of the Yetton Trophy, top ladies inter-club championship today (10am) having been awarded a first round bye.

While the men who made a superb start to the Wessex League regional competition three weeks ago with a 83-71 win over Carterton in their opening east region game face another Oxfordshire side tomorrow.

Manor play Chipping Norton who finished one place above them last season, once again it is two rinks home and two away.

MEN’S TEAM

v Chipping Norton (Wessex League tomorrow)

Home - Rink 1: John Jordan, Chris Mussen, Danny Harvey & Carl Fernandes. Rink 2: Kevin Mitchell, Kevin Hillier, Paul Cooper & Geoff Porte.

Away - Rink 1: David Murray, Chris Payne, Tony Rivers & Richard Young. Rink 2: Robbie Ferguson, Michael Kilburn, Ben Choules & Stuart Murray.