WILTSHIRE'S junior men opened the new 2018 season with a friendly match in preparation for their bid for glory in the national White Rose Trophy (inter-county U25 double rinks) competition that begins early next month.

Scheduled to play a four-rink U25 match at Chippenham Town against Somerset U25s last Sunday, the visitors were only able to field 12 players so the host club stepped in with a men’s triples team to provide opposition for the young Wiltshire men’s side.

Wiltshire U25 skipper Mike Titcombe (Westlecot) did exceptionally well to come back from a big deficit of 22-6 down after 12 ends.

He won the next eight and cut the gap to only 22-20 but then dropped a single on the last end to lose narrowly 23-20.

Alongside Craig Morphet (Royal Wootton Bassett) was involved in a tight game for three quarters of the match with his rink only trailing their west country opponents 12-11 after 14 ends.

But his rink then dropped eight shots on the next two ends to fall 11-20 adrift however they fought back to close the gap and only lose 23-17.

Meanwhile new Westlecot player Ben Choules’ foursome struggled despite being tied 5-5 at six ends and eventually lost 21-9.

However, there was an excellent performance on the other rink with James Vincent (Salisbury) leading his triple to a comprehensive 33-10 success over the Chippenham trio.

Wiltshire U25 men continue their build-up to the White Rose U25 Trophy first round tie against Somerset at home at Royal Wootton Bassett on Sunday May 13 (10.30am).

They have arranged another friendly match this time at home against Oxfordshire U25s at Swindon BC (Shrivenham Road) next weekend on Saturday, May 5. It will be a four rink fours match but the team shows several changes from last weekend at Chippenham.

While two-days later they contest the annual U25 Four Counties May Bank Holiday Monday Tournament at Clevedon which will feature four sides - Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Wiltshire and hosts Somerset.

RESULTS

v Somerset (at Chippenham Town)

Rink 2: Tom Newman (Avon), Jack Wilkins (Supermarine), Adam Bolwell (Spencer Moulton) & Ben Choules (Westlecot) lost to Ryan Hooper 9-21. Rink 3: Jamie Shadwell (Box), Haydn Daniell (Royal Wootton Bassett), David Murray (Highworth) & Mike Titcombe (W’lecot) lost to Jack Groves 20-23. Rink 4: Isaac Jacob (Trowbridge W), James Richman (W’lecot) & Craig Morphet (RWB) lost to Levi Hembrow 17-23. Rink 5: Josh Fail (Purton), Nathan Richards (W’lecot) & James Vincent (Salisbury) beat Roger Jackson, Bill Malone & Kevin Ringham 33-10.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Somerset 46-67 but won triples match against Chippenhan Town 33-10

TEAM

v Oxfordshire on May 5 (at Swindon BC)

Rink 1: D Murray (High), J Vincent, Jordan Moody (both Salisbury) & M Titcombe (West). Rink 2: A Bolwell (S Moulton), H Daniell (RWB), Tom Newman (Avon) & C Morphet (RWB). Rink 3: Jake Webster, B Choules (both W’lecot), Phil Gregory & Craig Hatherall (both RWB). Rink 4: J Shadwell (Box), I Jacob (Trow West), J Fail (Purton) and J Richman (West). Reserve: Jack Wilkins (Supermarine)

WILTSHIRE, led by Neil Smith (Bassett) have named the players chosen by the selectors for the first Middleton Cup trial at Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday, May 12 (10am).

Thirty-four players have been named by player-manager Smith and his co-selectors for the first trial, the list dominated by the host club Royal Wootton Bassett with 14.

Following the trial the team to play Hampshire at Bassett on Saturday, May 19 in a full-scale second Middleton Cup trial will be named immediately.

This season Wiltshire will be competing in a four-team west group A alongside Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and holders Devon with only the group winner progressing to the quarter-finals.

They begin their 2018 campaign with a tough first game against Devon at Topsham on June 2.

Last season Wiltshire beat Devon at home but still failed to win the group as they lost heavily in their last group game to Gloucestershire away in Cheltenham.

WILTSHIRE men’s friendly games will take place this season under the stewardship of new men’s president Stewart Allison (Chippenham Park).

The first friendly is planned for Saturday, May 19 at Avon (Melksham) against the West Wilts BA representative side.

The next, three days later, is an away match against Gloucestershire at Olveston BC on Tuesday, 22 May.

WILTSHIRE Ladies have organised two trial matches in readiness for their Johns Trophy inter-county campaign this season.

The first will be held at Wroughton next Saturday at 1.30pm and the second trial five days later at Devizes, May 10 (6pm).

This season Wiltshire will contest a four-team west group A alongside Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset with only the winners progressing to the last eight and quarter-finals.

Their first match is away to Dorset at Sherborne on Saturday, June 2.

Once again, Wiltshire are contesting the South West Counties League this season.

Their opening game is against Cornwall on May 15 at Tiverton West End and the second SWCL match at Salisbury against Somerset on June 13.

In between times county ladies under the leadership of 2018 ladies president Dawn Edwards (Avon) will play friendly matches at Highworth against Warwickshire (May 17) and at Witney Town versus Oxfordshire (May 22).

SWINDON & District men’s and ladies leagues have already begun in the four-rink, two fours and triples leagues, but their representative games do not commence until later next month.

The ladies, led by non-playing president June Johns (Swindon), face Salisbury & District at Pewsey on May 24 while S&D men host Bournemouth & District at Amesbury three days later.

However, a mixed men’s and ladies side will play Bowls Wiltshire on May 6 at Swindon BC (Shrivenham Road) at 2.30pm.