LOSING semi-finalists at Worthing twice in the previous three season’s Wiltshire Under 25 men’s side surprisingly went out of this year’s White Rose Trophy match at the first hurdle.

West regional winners in 2011 and 2013 Wiltshire were second best to Worcestershire in their opening first round tie in the national inter-counties U25 Double Rinks competition.

Wiltshire went down by one shot on an extra end after the two counties had tied 40-40 after the allotted 21 ends on both rinks.

“We were well behind for much of the game,” said a very disappointed U25 team manager Adam Tanner. “But amazingly we came back from 17 shots down after 16 ends.

“We were holding the match with one bowl to go when their international skip against Nick (Revell), Ryan Atkins, trailed the jack to force an extra end.

“On the extra end we were holding a front toucher before it was killed. We then lost the replayed end.

Tanner continued: “Although we were not at our best for most of the game, another strong comeback - we have had many of these in recent years - showed the excellent spirit of the team.

“We still haven't lost a rink during the standard 21 ends this season, but unfortunately that wasn't quite good enough on Sunday.”

And he added: “It was the final White Rose game for 24-year-olds Mike Richards and Paul Stokes, who have both been excellent for us, and I thank them for that.

“We now move on to the South West Counties games in June and July.”

Last year Wiltshire beat Worcestershire 46-40 on their way to Worthing but last Sunday away at St Dunstan’s BC (Worcester) they made a very poor start in the White Rose Trophy.

Across the board they trailed 20-3 after five ends with Nick Revell’s four 9-1 down and Mike Richards’ quartet 11-2 adrift.

And at 15 ends Wiltshire were 35-17 down but then rallied superbly with Revell coming from 17-7 down to draw 18-18. While Richards’ four collected a six on the 17th end to only trail 19-16 and grabbed a four on the last for a 22-22 draw.

This tied the scores overall at 40-40 and an extra end was needed to find a winner. Revell’s rink losing that by one shot.

Worcestershire move forward to the regional final at Bath on June 15 while Wiltshire turn their attentions now to the South West Counties U25 League campaign.

RESULTS

Rink 4: Gary Jackson, Mike Titcombe Jnr, Paul Stokes & Mike Richards (all Westlecot) drew with Jamie Taylor 22-22.

Rink 3: Tom Warner (Amesbury), Craig Hatherall (W’lecot), Kyle Anderson (Wootton Bassett) & Nick Revell (Amesbury) lost to Ryan Atkins 18-19 (after extra end).

Score: Wiltshire lost to Worcestershire 40-41 (aee).