LOCAL clubs Westlecot and Wootton Bassett both missed out on booking fours and triples places at August’s national championships in Royal Leamington Spa .

Both clubs lost their semi-finals played last weekend at Chippenham Town but Westlecot still have one more chance in the triples.

Holt reigned supreme in the men’s fours semis last Saturday afternoon. Both of their quartets, skipped by Ben Gadd and Craig Doughty, won their respective matches to book a place in the county final at Devizes in September and the right to represent Wiltshire in the men’s national event at Leamington.

Gadd’s rink, full of Middleton Cup players, who had eliminated another Holt team in the quarter-finals, were too powerful for a veteran’s four from Westlecot skipped by Mike Hall, who had caused a big shock in the last round when eliminating Steve Snell’s Wootton Bassett team 22-21.

In the other semi-final, county newcomers, Doughty’s four from Holt, made a flying start against Graham Shadwell’s quartet from Spencer Moulton, racing into a 9-3 lead at six ends but they were 11-9 down at 11. However, Doughty’s rink hit back with a count of five and went 18-12 up at 16 ends and had victory in their sights when leading 21-13 at 19.

But back came Shadwell’s four, collecting a two and then a five on the last end to only miss out by a single shot.

Doughty’s hopes of also reaching the triples semi-finals had been ended 24 hours earlier at Westlecot when a trio from the host club, skipped by Ray Sowden, beat them comfortably 22-13. In the other delayed quarter-final, Ben Gadd’s triple from Holt cruised to a comfortable 16-3 success over Paul Sloman (Westlecot).

In the triples semi that was played at Chippenham on Saturday evening Wootton Bassett missed out as Spencer Moulton made up for their defeat in the fours earlier in the day with a 23-19 success.

They clinched a place in both the county triples final at Devizes and the national triples championships at Leamington on August 11.

RESULTS Fours semi-finals: Rod Summers, Tony Keating, Kevin Rowdon & Craig Doughty (Holt) beat Russell Francis, Gary Fippen, Andy Colebrooke & Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) 21-20; Wayne Simmonds, Justin Davis, Wayne Snook & Ben Gadd (Holt) beat Joe Mazzotta, Mike Titcombe Snr, Mike Bowden & Mike Hall (Westlecot) 26-8.

Delayed Triples quarter-finals: Paul Kistle, Des Rideout & Paul Sloman (Westlecot) lost to Simmonds, Snook & Gadd (Holt) 3-16.

Keith Williamson, John Thomas & Ray Sowden (Westlecot) beat Keating, Rowdon & Doughty (Holt) 22-13.

Triples semi-finals: James Nobbs, Terry Walton & Gary Morphet (Wootton Bassett) lost to Russell Francis, Andy Colebrooke & Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) 19-23; Simmonds, Snook & Gadd (Holt) v Williamson, Thomas & Sowden (Westlecot) – arranged for Sunday June 15 at Chippenham T (10am).

n WILTSHIRE men’s hopes of success in the Balcombe Trophy are over for this season.

They were beaten 37-25 by Warwickshire at Rugby in the opening round of the inter-county national county top two fours competition.

A disappointed Wiltshire team manager Dave Snell from Wootton Bassett said: “Warwickshire got off to a fine start and led 9-1 after only three ends and increased their lead to 12 shots by eight.

“But by 14 ends Wiltshire had reduced the lead to three shots and at 18 ends were only still four shots adrift with all to play for. However, over the last few ends Warwickshire increased their lead to win by 12 overall.

“Playing at Rugby Bowls Club was certainly going to be a good home advantage to Warwickshire, as six of their team play their bowls at the club and this proved to be the case.”

RESULTS Rink 1: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Steve Snell, Neil Smith (Wootton Bassett), Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) lost to Alan Aspey 15-18. Rink 2: Graham Hatherall (Westlecot), Russell Francis (S Moulton), Mike Jackson & Mel Biggs (both W’lecot) lost to Calvin Wells 10-19. Score: Wiltshire lost to Warwickshire 25-37.

n WILTSHIRE men began their Middleton Cup campaign in style two weeks ago with a win over Gloucestershire at Wootton Bassett.

They came from 58-55 down across the board at halfway (10 ends) with a powerful second part of the game to chalk up a 135-103 victory and collect 18 points out of a possible 22.

The Moonraker county will be looking to build on that excellent start today when they entertain Worcestershire at home at Wootton Bassett (2pm) in their second west region group match in the inter-county championship.

While Wiltshire beat Gloucestershire in round one Worcestershire edged home by two shots 115-113 against Warwickshire to earn 15 points.

Therefore, a win over Worcestershire today would put them in pole position to qualify with only one group match remaining.

n THE COUNTY continue their centenary celebrations early next week on Monday with the third in a series of special men’s matches against The Dennyside at Swindon (2pm).

Men’s 2014 president Dave Richards (Trowbridge Westbourne) will again lead the side, seeking a victory after losing out 135-109 to Friends of English Bowling last week at North Wilts.

The team selected to play against the Dennyside is drawn from numerous clubs around the Moonraker county.

TEAM Rink 1: Alfred Varley (Wroughton), Harry Langley, Ray Fernandes (both Swindon) & Dave Richards (pres. Trowbridge Westbourne). Rink 2: Tom Mitchell (Corsham), Michael Payne (Rodbourne Cheney), Richard Gardiner (SVP, Supermarine) & Alan Small (Wootton Bassett). Rink 3: Don French (Trow Town), Ken Bray (Avon), Andy Watson & Tudor Lloyd (both S’don). Rink 4: Philip Wells (Avon), Ron Salsbury (Westlecot), Harold Jones (WB) & George Henderson (Calne). Rink 5: Ben Hatton, Derrick Coleman (both Amesbury), Bob Hiles (S’don) & John Southern (Ames). Rink 6: Del Smith (WB), Geoff Porte (S’don), Vic Hilton (WB) & Steve Gedge (Spencer Melksham).