NEIL Smith’s ambition to play for England indoors will finally be realised this weekend.

After several near misses where he has sat on the bench for his country, the 49-year-old has been selected to represent England in an indoor Test match and will make his international debut in the Co-operative Funeralcare Mixed Test match against Wales this weekend in County Durham.

Smith, who plays for Westlecot (indoors) and Wootton Bassett (outdoors), is named in the six-strong England team along with Perry Martin (Swale, Kent) and Graham Smith (Spalding), plus ladies Lauren Copeland (Hartlepool), Zoe Eagles (York) and Sarah Seymour (Ely).

Smith said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been chosen for England for the Test Match against Wales and I am really looking forward to the experience and playing for my country.

“Having sat and watched for the last two seasons at the International Series I did wonder if I would ever get the chance to play for England.

“I have always believed in my ability and now have a chance to prove myself and force my way into the International Series team in March.”

Meanwhile, Smith came close to booking a place in the 2016 world championships to be held at Potters Resort in Norfolk.

Last year he reached the last 32 at Potters in the inaugural world pairs championship but this time around, together with his youngest daughter Katy, 18, they just missed out after losing in the final of the qualifiers.

THE rink of Kyle Anderson, Dave Snell, Dave Godwin and Stephen Snell have won the Wiltshire men’s fours championship title.

They took the crown on their own green last weekend, beating club-mates Lawrence Smith, Barry Sictorness, Chris Cheesley and Gary Morphet 20-9.

Anderson and Co led 7-4 after five ends and had increased that advantage to 13-7 after 10 before going 17-8 up at 15.

The match was conceded after 18 ends with the score standing at 20-9.