WESTLECOT and Wootton Bassett have a very strong representation in the men’s squad named by Wiltshire team manager Dave Snell for this season’s inter-county championship matches for the Middleton Cup.

The top two local clubs supply 17 of the 31 players selected for the 2014 Moonrakers’ cup squad, with Westlecot just edging out Bassett with nine players against eight.

The Bassett octet includes the experienced Dave Godwin, who has moved along the A3102 from Chippenham Town to join them.

The squad are only drawn from six clubs - Swindon Westlecot, Wootton Bassett, Holt, Spencer Moulton, Chippenham Town and Amesbury. The first three supply the bulk of the players in the squad, 25, with the other six split equally between the rest.

Holt only had four players in the squad last year but in 2014 they have doubled that figure to eight.

Four newcomers are named all from the Holt club - Craig Doughty, Kevin Rowdon, Justin Davis and Kevin Oliver - while Barry Sictorness (W Bassett) returns after taking a year out.

Davis has previously played Middleton Cup for Wiltshire but not for several years and has made 17 appearances while Kevin Oliver has yet to make his Wiltshire debut.

Two of the squad, Ian Jefferies (Westlecot) and Kevin Oliver are unavailable for the cup trial owing to prior commitments but the other 29 have been invited to attend the Middleton Cup trial on Sunday, May 18 at Wootton Bassett (10am).

Two years ago Wiltshire lost narrowly to Norfolk in the Middleton Cup final at Worthing while last season they went out in the quarter-finals to their old adversaries Devon.

This season they are rated as favourites to win their West group section and progress to the quarter-finals again as they have drawn two home matches at Wootton Bassett.

“I am really looking forward to the new MC season,” said team manager Snell who was the first player to make 100 Middleton Cup appearances for Wiltshire.

“I believe we have a great chance in reaching the quarter-finals again with two home games in the group this year against Gloucestershire (May 31) and Worcestershire (June 14) with our last group game away to Warwickshire (July 5).

“This will then probably give us another quarter-final against Devon and I think we owe them one.”

Under 25 team manager Adam Tanner has named several young players in the team for the opening match of the season, a junior men’s friendly away against Somerset tomorrow at Paulton (2pm).

The side is drawn from eight clubs with all but two of the players coming from local clubs.

Tanner will be using the match to check on the form of several of his established U25 players ready for the White Rose Trophy clash against Worcestershire at the end of next month.

Several clubs in the area are holding Open Days to encourage newcomers to the game of Bowls.

Swindon Bowls Club situated on Marsh Farm Lane (off Shrivenham Road) is holding their Open Day on Saturday May 17 from 10am to 4pm.

A warm welcome is extended to anyone who would be interested in trying out the game of bowls. All equipment provided free as well as instruction by qualified instructors. For further information telephone the Swindon club on 01793 535066 or Carl Fernandes on 01793 614255.