SWINDON BC, Highworth and Royal Wootton Bassett all missed out in the men’s semi-finals of the county fours or triples championships staged at Devizes last Sunday.

Swindon went out to from Holt in the fours, while Highworth were edged out in the triples by another Holt side and Bassett were stunned by Chippenhan Town in the second fours semi-final.

Swindon's Micky Pearce, Steve Barker, Geoff Porte and skip Carl Fernandes were always playing catch-up in their semi against Holt as they eventually lost 33-13.

The Bassett foursome of Tom Walkley, Terry Walton, Neil Smith and Mel Biggs, despite leading 10-9 after 11 ends against Chippenham, lost 20-16 in their semi-final clash.

Highworth saw victory snatched from their grasp in the triples semis by a Holt side skipped by Justin Davis who had featured in the fours earlier.

The Highworth trio of David Murray, Mark Richman and Rob Etherington fought back from trailing Holt 12-7 after 10 ends to go 13-13 after 14 only to lose out 18-15.

WILTSHIRE made it two wins out of two in the Middleton Cup west group as they beat holders Devon 140-106 at Royal Wootton Bassett.

The led overall at five ends 27-19, 59-44 at 10 and 89-72 after 15 before going 109-93 up after 18.

RESULTS Rink 1: Tom Warner (Amesbury), Mike Titcombe, Ian Jefferies (both Westlecot) & Neil Smith (player/manager, Royal Wootton Bassett) lost to Andy Walters 14-24. Rink 2: Mike Richards, Jamie Titcombe (both West), Gary Morphet & Mel Biggs (both RWB) lost to Grant Burgess 17-19. Rink 3: James Richman (West), Chris Cheesley, Dave Godwin (both RWB) & Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton) beat Keith Weaver 32-13.

Rink 4: Gary and Mike Jackson, Graham Hatherall (all West) & Graham Shadwell (S Moulton) beat Rob Stanley 27-16. Rink 5: Craig Doughty (Holt), Colin Easton (Avon), Steve Snell (RWB) & Justin Davis (Holt) lost to Rob McCaughtrie 17-19. Rink 6: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Craig Hatherall (West), Wayne Snook and Ben Gadd (both Holt) beat Steve Poyner 33-15.

Score: Wiltshire (16 pts) 140 Worcestershire (6) 106.

THE Junior men’s side lost 52-36 in their west regional semi-final against Devon at West Backwell.

At five ends overall Wiltshire were up in one match and down in the other but 9-8 down. But at ten ends they led in both matches with Mike Titcombe up 13-8 and Craig Morphet 10-8 up and overall ahead 23-16.

However everything then went pear-shaped and they found themselves down in both games Morphet trailing 19-11 and Titcombe 19-18 and overall were 38-29 down at 15 ends.

The next end gave Wiltshire renewed hope Morphet grabbed a five and Titcombe a two to cut the gap to only 38-36 overall.

But then Devon moved up a couple of gears as Titcombe dropped 2, 4, and another 4 to trail 29-20 while Morphet dropped two singles and a two to go 23-16 adrift. At this point with only 19 ends played in both games a halt was called with Wiltshire losing 52-36.

WILTSHIRE men will be bidding to win the regional final in the Balcombe Trophy tomorrow at Bristol BC.

THE county men lost this week’s friendly match against Isle of Wight 142-90.