WILTSHIRE'S U25 men’s side just missed out on retaining their title at the annual May Bank Holiday Monday Four Counties Tournament, staged this year at Broadway, Worcestershire.

The county men’s junior side had won the trophy in the last two seasons – the first two years in which they had competed in the completion – firstly, away in Gloucestershire and then last year at home at Westlecot.

The Four Counties tournament, where each county supplies a rink against the other three playing alongside each other, is used as a preparation event for the early rounds in the national White Rose Trophy U25 inter-county double rinks.

Wiltshire’s opening game in this competition, in which they have twice reached the semi-finals in recent years, is against Warwickshire at Wootton Bassett on May 22.

RESULTS:

Rink 1: Chris Poole (Holt), Tom Newman (Trowbridge Westbourne), Craig Morphet & Gary Jackson (both Westlecot) lost to Reece White (Somerset) 17-18.

Rink 4: James Richman (Highworth), Jamie Shadwell (Spencer Moulton), Craig Hatherall (W’lecot) & Kyle Anderson (Royal Wootton Bassett) beat Max Rigby (Glos) 27-12.

Rink 6: Adam Bolwell (Winsley), Ben Choules (Highworth), Mike Titcombe (W’lecot) & Nick Revell (Amesbury) lost to Jamie Taylor (Worcs) 11-21.

  • WILTSHIRE Ladies began their preparations for this season’s bid for glory in the inter-counties championship for the Johns Trophy with two trial matches this week.

The first took take place on Wednesday night at Devizes and featured 48 players selected in 12 rinks, playing six matches.

A full 41 of those players were due to appear in the second trial today at Wroughton and be joined by seven fresh faces, giving a combined total of 55 women taking part in the two trials.

Following the two trials, the Wiltshire side for the opening South West Counties League match versus Cornwall on May 17 and the first Johns Trophy group match against Devon on Saturday, June 4 will be announced.

  • THE county men begin their build-up for their inter-counties championship tilt for the Middleton Cup with a first Cup trial at Royal Wootton Bassett Bowls Club on Sunday, May 15 (10am).