ROYAL Wootton Bassett and Westlecot supply three quarters of the players named for Wiltshire's full-scale Middleton Cup trial match against Hampshire men being staged at Bassett this afternoon (Saturday) at 2pm.

Twenty-four players have been picked for the game with no fewer than half of them (12) representing the host club with another six representing Swindon Old Town club Westlecot.

Four reserves have also been selected who will get half a game.

Two new faces and one old face are included in the Wiltshire squad for the Hampshire match today.

Newcomers are Phil Gregory from East Anglia and former Welsh international Neil Collett who are both playing this season for Bassett.

Returning after several years away in South Africa is Michael Snell, who has rejoined Bassett while father and son Graham and Craig Hatherall have switched clubs from Westlecot to Bassett.

The first inter-county game in the 2018 Middleton Cup is scheduled for a fortnight’s time on Saturday, June 2 when Wiltshire travel to Exeter to renew old rivalries with Devon at Topsham bowls club.

Before then Wiltshire also meet Devon at Topsham next Sunday, May 27, in the opening round of the west region of the Balcombe Trophy, men’s national county two fours competition.

The team for this Balcombe game will be named after the Middleton Cup trial taking place today.

TEAM

Wiltshire v Hampshire (Middleton Cup Trial at RWB 2pm, today, Rink 1: Gary and Mike Jackson (Westlecot), Gary Morphet & Mel Biggs(Royal Wootton Bassett). Rink 2: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Craig Hatherall (RWB), Wayne Snook & Ben Gadd (both Holt). Rink 3: Kyle Anderson, Mike Snell, Steve Snell (all RWB) & Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton). Rink 4: Phil Gregory (RWB), Tom Warner (Salisbury), Graham Hatherall & Neil Collett (both RWB). Rink 5: Paul Kistle (W’cot), Chris Cheesley, Dave Godwin (both RWB) & Russell Francis (S M’ton). Rink 6: James Richman, Mike Titcombe, Ian Jefferies (all W’cot) & Neil Smith (player/manager, RWB).

Reserves to play 11 ends: Craig Morphet (RWB), Tony Keating (Holt), Barry Sictorness (RWB) and Michael Richards (W’cot).

WILTSHIRE'S junior men’s involvement in the White Rose Trophy (men’s U25 inter-county double rinks competition), is over for another season.

The county team had to give second best to their west country rivals Somerset in their opening west region group match at home at Royal Wootton Bassett last Sunday morning by 10 shots (40-30).

Moonrakers four of Tom Newman (Avon), David Murray (Highworth), Craig Hatherall and Craig Morphet (both Royal Wootton Bassett) made a slow start and were 10-1 down early to the rink skipped by England junior international Sam Steel and never recovered finally losing 22-12.

The other match featuring the foursome of James Richman, Nathan Richards (both Westlecot), Phil Gregory (RWB) and skipped by Mike Titcombe (Westlecot) were involved in a very tight game throughout.

Titcombe’s foursome were11-8 down at 10 ends but had wiped out the deficit and moved ahead to lead 18-16 at 19 ends, but had to finally settle for an honourable 18-18 draw.

Somerset progress to the White Rose Trophy regional finals at West Backwell (Somerset) to be held on Sunday, June 17.