Sun to shine on second weekend?

8:54am Saturday 26th April 2008

BOWLERS are hoping for a better second weekend of the new outdoor season following the soggy opening to the campaign, writes DAVE EATON.

Many clubs held their traditional drive-ins last week but, after the wet and miserable conditions, will be hoping for plenty of sunshine on their backs this time.

This week sees the vast majority of local clubs begin their league campaigns in earnest.

Swindon & District League men's and women's sections again operate their various leagues and competitions.

The S & D men's representative team, led by 2008 president Bob Scammell (Westlecot), play 11 games starting tomorrow, with the annual fixture against Wiltshire Executive at Highworth.

TEAMS

Swindon & District Rink 1: Franko Remordina, Alec Titcombe, Vince Garratt and Maurice Simpson (all Faringdon).

Rink 2: Frank Etherington, Mike Woolmer, Rob Allen and Clive Humphreys (all Highworth).

Rink 3: Rik Hunter, Jock Kinnard (both Westlecot), Danny Williams and Dave Herold (both Town Gardens).

Rink 4: Dave Royle, Gordon Foster-Blythe (Rodbourne Cheney), Les Cox (Swindon) and Mike Sawyer (Rodbourne C).

Rink 5: B and D Thompson, R Wood (all West End) and Mike Large (Wanborough).

Rink 6: AN Other, Darren Strowger (Faringdon), Chris Payne (Garrards) and Roy Major (Swindon).

Wiltshire Executive From: Howard Brewwer (Trowbridge Westbourne), Joe Backshell (Haydon Wick), Ken Bray (Cooper Avon), Bernard Crabb (Malmesbury), John Duncan (Blue Circle), Derek Francis (Devizes), Don French (Broughton Gifford), Alan Groves (Westlecot), Richard Gardiner (Supermarine), Keith Hutchens (Westinghouse), Harry Langley (Swindon), Adie Lloyd (North Wilts), Tom Mitchell (Corsham), John Northover (Chippenham T), Gordon Pearce (Highworth), George Pike (Salisbury), Alan Penfold (Supermarine), Dave Richards (Trowbridge T), John Snell (Alderbury), Peter Stewart (Haydon Wick), Stan Twine (Wootton Bassett), Barry Wheeler (Swindon), John White, Mel Williams (both Highworth) and John Wilks (Wootton Bassett).

• The S&D men will also play a special match at Swindon Bowls Club on Bank Holiday Monday (May 26) to celebrate the oldest club in the town reaching its centenary.

The clash with S&D women is set for June 8, at Wanborough, the green of women's president Carol Woodbridge while Scammell's president's day will be held at Westlecot on July 13.

S&D men's finals day is on September 13 at Rodbourne Cheney.

Meanwhile, the S&D women's association will play 12 matches with the first against Portsmouth on May 27 at Fareham and they embark on a four-day tour to Wales from June 14-17.

A match against the Wiltshire County Women's Bowling Association side at Devizes is on August 29 and with the final meeting, versus Isle of Wight at Cricklade, on Wednesday, September 10.

Three days earlier, S&D finals day will be staged at Wanborough.

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