GARY Morphet and his son Craig have won the national family pairs competition for the first time.

They clinched the title last Sunday on day two of the national championships at Royal Leamington Spa.

Gary, 52, who plays for Royal Wootton Bassett and his 22-year-old son Craig, who plays at Westlecot, combined superbly to lift the family pairs trophy, defeating Rugby’s Geoff Millership and his England international son Tom in the final 20-19 and become Wiltshire’s first winners at the 2016 national championships.

“It was tense at the end and I must admit a relief to win it,” said Gary.

“We made a fine start and were 11-1 up but they kept clawing it back and it got very tight. We led by three going into the last end, Tom had two shots and room on the last end to draw another shot but was short with his last wood giving us victory.

“It is fantastic to win a national but extra special when it is with your son.

“Craig played well seeing as it was his first time at the national championships and got quite emotional at the end.

“We can look forward to defending our family pairs title together next year and also going for the men’s pairs championship together as Craig is going to join Wootton Bassett next year.”

It was Craig’s first national final but for his dad Gary, it proved to be third time lucky having been a losing men’s finalist twice previously in 2012.

He lost in the triples final at Worthing in the national championships with Royal Wootton Bassett colleagues James Nobbs and Neil Smith.

In 2012, he was also a member of the Wiltshire side beaten by Norfolk in the final of the Middleton Cup, men’s inter-county championship.

The Morphets made a flying start in the final and thanks to two counts of four on the third and fourth ends led their Rugby opponents 10-1 after five ends and 12-6 after 12.

They were pulled back to only lead 15-13 after 17 ends but had been reeled in completely to be tied 17-17 after 19 ends.

The Wiltshire duo looked to have sealed victory with a three on the next but were pushed hard on the last end, however, they held on for a 20-19 win despite dropping two shots on the 21st end.

In the Sunday morning semi-finals, they had booked their final spot with a 23-17 victory over Robert and Scott Dunham (Carters Park, Lincs), greatly aided by a score of seven on the 15th end.

In Saturday’s quarter-finals they had a comfortable 20-10 success over Lee and Graham Rowland (Cornard, Suffolk).

RESULTS

Quarter-finals: Nick & Tom Muir (Hertfordshire) bt Terry & Ian Honnor (Sussex) 21-14; Geoff & Tom Millership (Warwickshire) bt Chris & Ian Bond (Devon) 23-13; Craig & Gary Morphet (Wiltshire) bt Lee & Graham Rowland (Suffolk) 20-10; Richard & Scott Dunham (Lincolnshire) bt Eddie Smith & Steve Mitchinson (Essex) 21-18.

Semi-finals: G & T Millership bt N & T Muir 24-15; C & G Morphet bt R & S Dunham 23-17.

FINAL: Craig & Gary Morphet (Wilts) bt Geoff & Tom Millership (Warks) 20-19.

Apart from the success of the Morphets, it has been a very disappointing opening to the 2016 national championships for Wiltshire bowlers.

Ann Greenland and Janet Hardie (North Wilts) went out in the first round of the ladies senior pairs 17-16 to a Derbyshire pairing from Silver Band bowls club, Long Eaton.

Lucy Smith (Royal Wootton Bassett) lost in round one of the junior (U25 singles) on the last end 21-20 to Natalie Fox (Sandwich, Kent). 

Georgina Newman (Avon) won her opening game with ease beating Jodie Long ( Preston Park Middx) 21-1 but lost in the second round to Freya Spokes (Waddesdon BC, Bucks) 21-16. The title was retained by England international Sophie Tolchard (Kings Torquay).

On Tuesday there was double disappointment in the opening round of the ladies fours championship.

County champions Box - Carol Grenfell, Karen Funnell, Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs - lost to Bideford 24-16 while county losing finalists rink of

Supermarine’s Carol Sandry, Marilyn Kilburn, county president Pat Jones and Bev Millen lost out to Egham, Surrey 22-17.

Yesterday (Wednesday) Box player Alex Jacobs was due to set out in the ladies champion of champions competition, the second of six events she has qualified for at Royal Leamington Spa.

She was due to face Ann Halliday (Cambridge Park, Surrey) in the last 16 of the C of C and if successful would then have played Caroline Campion (Banbury Central) or Sheila Simcoe (Lilleshall, Salop).

Jacobs has also qualified for the nationals at Leamington in the two wood singles, mixed pairs with Ian Higgins and in the Tony Allcock 60s mixed double rinks with Box.

And of course had earned the right to defend her senior singles (O55s) title she has won for the past two seasons.