ROYAL Wootton Bassett claimed a men’s team double at the Bowls Wiltshire finals staged at Devizes last weekend.

Bassett edged home on the last end of the four rink league play-off final last Sunday afternoon against holders Holt while their Tourist Trophy team had earlier recorded a comfortable 52-37 victory against Swindon Town Gardens a few hours earlier to retain their title.

In the four rink league final, the lead swung one way and then the other before being decided on the very last end as Bassett skip Mel Biggs grabbed a two to ensure a one shot hard fought 76-75 aggregate victory.

Bassett led 25-16 after five ends across the board but holders Holt had moved 42-41 up at halfway (11 ends).

However, Bassett hit back to lead 55-53 after 15 ends but Holt were not giving up their crown easily and had wrestled the lead back at 67-63 after 18 ends across the board.

From then on, it was nip and tuck and things went right to the wire as the outcome was only settled on the very last end of the four matches.

Earlier on Sunday, Bassett had retained the men’s double rinks Tourist Trophy with a 52-37 aggregate victory over Swindon Town Gardens.

They were in control throughout, leading overall on the two rinks 15-8 at five ends, 22-17 at ten, 31-18 at 15 before finally winning 52-37.

Mel Biggs’ rink won 27-18 and Gary Morphet’s rink won 25-19.

n ROYAL Wootton Bassett’s men go searching for more glory this weekend as they compete in the final stages of Bowls England men’s Top Club championship at in Royal Leamington Spa.

They face Cheltenham in the quarter-finals on Saturday and if successful, they would then play either Hove & Kingsway or Nafferton in the semi-finals on Sunday morning, with the final later that day.