THE AREA’S top two men’s clubs – Royal Wootton Bassett and Westlecot – endured mixed fortunes last weekend in the semi-finals of the Wiltshire men’s Four-Rink League play-offs.

The former won their match against Amesbury to qualify for the final at Devizes on Sunday but Westlecot missed out, losing to holders Holt.

Bassett booked their place in the final with a 22-shot win over Amesbury as they ran out 87-65 victors in their semi played on the neutral green at Holt.

However, Westlecot, who were runners-up to Bassett in Area B, went down at Chippenham Town by 17 shots to Area C winners Holt, losing 82-65.

Although Bassett only took the honours on two of the four rinks against Amesbury, the wins recorded by Gary Morphet’s foursome (17 shots) and Steve Snell’s quartet (seven shots) easily compensated for the one-shot losses suffered by Mel Biggs and Neil Smith’s rinks.

Across the board, Bassett led throughout. They were 21-14 up after five ends, 42-25 at ten, 58-43 after 15 and 76-60 at 18 before increasing the final winning margin after 21 ends to 87-65.

Three of Westlecot’s matches against Holt were close affairs, the exception being Ian Jefferies' game against Justin Davis, where his rink were always in trouble, trailing 15-6 at 15 ends and finally going down 19-8 at 19 ends when a halt was called.

Westlecot were adrift throughout the match against Holt, losing 19-14 at five ends, 37-30 at 10, 60-46 at 15 and 68-56 at 18 before finally going down 82-65.

  • LOCAL clubs are well represented at the Bowls Wiltshire finals weekend being staged today and tomorrow at Devizes.

Bassett, besides competing in the Four-Rink League play-off final versus Holt, also contest the men’s double rinks Tourist Trophy final against Swindon Town Gardens, while Purton compete in the ladies Top Ten event against Box.

The Top Ten is played over four disciplines, four wood singles, pairs, triples and fours, with a point awarded for each discipline won.

On the individual front, Tom Pittuck (Town Gardens) faces Geoff Porte (Swindon BC) in the men’s champion of champions final.

Pittuck is also one of four local players through to the unbadged singles semi-finals where he faces Rodbourne Cheney’s Dave Murray. Chris Payne (Garrards) faces Mike Titcombe (Westlecot) in the other.

Westlecot also have Gary Jackson in the greenkeepers final against Devizes’ Colin Little.

The two Alans from Swindon West End, Norgrove and Adams, face Devizes’ Dave Greenwood and Sheila Garlick in the Bowls Wiltshire secretary and treasurers pairs final.

On the ladies front, Stratton Churchway’s June Webb, J Bryant and Daphne Collier meet Amesbury in the semi-finals of the ladies benevolent triples. North Wilts meet Salisbury in the other semi.

Finally, Wroughton trio Judy Hallard, Jane Croston and Margaret Douthwaite, plus Royal Wootton Bassett’s Charlotte Daniell, compete in the ladies unbadged singles quarter-finals.