WILTSHIRE men have qualified for the regional final in the Balcombe Trophy following their 49-34 success over Worcestershire at Royal Wootton Bassett.

Mel Biggs’ rink had to cling on after opening up a 14-8 lead after 10 ends as Worcestershire drew level after 18, however, the home rink eventually won 23-19, while Graham Shadwell’s four cruised to a 26-15 win.

RESULTS Rink 3: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Dave Godwin, Gary Morphet & Mel Biggs (all Royal Wootton Bassett) beat Andy Walters 23-19. Rink 4: Gary Jackson (Westlecot), Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton), Ben Gadd (Holt) & Graham Shadwell (S Moulton) beat Rob Stanley 26-15.

Score: Wiltshire beat Worcestershire 49-34.

THE JUNIOR men’s side bid for a place in the last four of the White Rose Trophy tomorrow when they tackle Devon at West Backwell (Somerset).

If Wiltshire can overcome Devon in the morning they would play either Cornwall or Somerset in regional final with a last four place at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

WILTSHIRE selectors have named an unchanged team for their second west group match in the Middleton Cup against Worcestershire today.

Not surprisingly they rely on the same 24 players that produced a stirring final flourish with 21 shots to one on the last two ends across the board to defeat holders Devon 115-110 in their last group match.

THE semi-finals of the men’s county and national fours and triples take place at Devizes tomorrow.

Swindon, Highworth and Royal Wootton Bassett will all contest the matches hoping for a place in the finals.

SEMI-FINAL DRAW Fours: Wayne Simmonds, Wayne Snook, Justin Davis & Ben Gadd (Holt) v Micky Pearce, Steve Barker, Geoff Porte & Carl Fernandes (Swindon); Tom Walkley, Terry Walton, Neil Smith & Mel Biggs (RWB) v Rob Clews, Jim Fitzpatrick, Rich Gainey & Neil Connor (Chippenham Town).

Triples: Robbie Jeffreys , Pete Hardie & Justin Davis (Holt) v David Murray, Mark Richman & Rob Etherington (Highworth).

THERE have been several surprise results in the men’s and mixed national championship events already this season.

Reigning family pairs champions Gary Morphet and his son Craig lost 26-21 to fellow Royal Wootton Bassett players Katy and Neil Smith.

The father and daughter duo then bit the dust going out in the first round to Town Gardens pair Tom Pittuck and his father Barry 18-14.

The Pittucks then fell in their next game losing to John Anderson and his son Kyle 21-16.

Now the Anderson face another tough game as they have to play Westlecot father and son duo Graham and Craig Hatherall.

In the Wiltshire section of the county men’s singles Gary Morphet lost to Tom Pittuck, while Neil Smith went out in the first round of the singles to Westlecot’s Graham Hatherall.

COUNTY MEN denied Devizes men a victory in their special game last weekend to celebrate their centenary.

Bowls Wiltshire men led by president John Southern took the overall win 112-100 taking the honours on three of the six rinks and drawing on another 16-16.