NEIL Smith is on the verge of hitting the big time and securing a place on next season’s indoor World Bowls Tour, writes DAVE EATON.

The Westlecot Indoor Club, an outdoor player for Wootton Bassett during the summer, battled his way through to the last 16 in the winter, with these play-offs taking place at Stanley, County Durham next weekend.

The two bowlers who are successful in County Durham will gain a tour card, which gives automatic entry into the three main 2012/13 indoor events - the World Singles Championship at Potters, the Welsh Grand Prix and the Scottish Open.

In the past four seasons 45-year-old Smith has qualified for the World Pairs, the World Singles and the Welsh Grand Prix once, but now has the chance to qualify for all three in one hit.

The 16 players for the tour card event are drawn from the eight UK Masters Champions plus the recent four Welsh GP and four Scottish Open qualifiers.

Smith, ranked 43 in the world, won the second UK Masters tournament at Erewash in the Midlands and later in the series finished runner-up in Wales at Cynon Valley, Mountain Ash, Rhondda.

The 16 players have been divided into four groups of four and initially play a round robin section. Then the four group winners will contest semi-finals with the two winners gaining tour cards.

“There are a lot of quality players in the tour card play-offs,” said Smith. “That is to be expected as it is a high-class field.

“But I go there full of confidence having beaten world number seven Mark Royal 2-0 in a tournament last weekend.

“I have been trying hard to break into the top-flight in recent years, now I have the chance and just hope I can take it.

“The way I see it, I can’t afford to lose a group game, therefore I must be looking for two wins and a draw to win the group. Then one more big effort is needed in the semi-finals to win a tour card which has been my aim for ages.”

  • WILTSHIRE men will be hoping it is third time lucky after two false starts to the 2012 outdoor season.

Their opening match against Swindon & District men had to be postponed as the green at West End was double-booked.

Then last Sunday the under 25 men’s friendly match against Somerset at Midsomer Norton was washed out.

Tomorrow the Wiltshire junior men’s side will be seeking better fortunes as they are scheduled to face Hampshire away at Cove (Farnborough) in a friendly game.

This match is in preparation for Wiltshire’s South West Counties Under 25 League campaign and their bid for glory in the National Under 25 Double Rinks for the White Rose Trophy in which they reached the semi-finals last year at Worthing.

Despite last weekend’s cancellation against Somerset, Wiltshire junior team manager Adam Tanner has decided to field the same side that was originally chosen for the trip to Farnborough.

Therefore only six players, Wootton Bassett’s Tom Skull, James Nobbs and Josh Cottle, plus Westlecot trio Michael Titcombe Jnr, Gary Jackson and Paul Stokes who were chosen to play against Somerset, will feature in the game with Hampshire.

Stokes, who made his Middleton Cup debut in 2010 and played in two matches against Worcestershire and Herefordshire, has moved from Highworth to Westlecot this season and is hoping to boost his chances of regaining a Middleton Cup spot.

The Wiltshire under 25 team to meet Hampshire has a strong local representation with 11 players selected.

THE county ladies begin their 2012 campaign today with a Johns Trophy trial at Westlecot.

Some 48 players have been selected to take part in the first of two inter-county championship team trials and have been allocated into 12 teams of four players (rinks).

Eight days later a second trial will be held on Sunday, May 13 at Amesbury (2pm), when a six-rink ladies’ side face the men’s South West Counties League squad.