WILTSHIRE men stayed on course for a quarter-final place in the Middleton Cup as they recorded another big victory in their inter-county championship group.

They followed up an impressive 50-shot win over Dorset by thumping Herefordshire 148-100 at St Martin’s BC, Hereford.

Wiltshire took the honours on five of the six rinks and drew on the other to collect 21 points and only drop one to take their fine start to the campaign to 41 points out of a possible 44.

Wiltshire made a late change, with Steve Snell pulling out with a knee injury. The selectors moved Paul MacDonald up to three in place of Snell in Graham Shadwell’s rink and brought in Westlecot’s Gary Jackson, son of Mike Jackson, at two for his Middleton Cup debut.

New team manager Dave Snell was delighted with the victory.

He said: “This was a very tight match in the early stages with Wiltshire a shot down after seven ends. But in the second half of the match Wiltshire pulled away across the board, led by Mel Biggs’ rink with an inspired performance by Graham Hatherall playing at three in his 50th MC appearance.

“There was another good win by Mike Jackson’s rink, who were never behind and ran out with a 13-shot victory.

“Like the previous week, there were also some good battling performances on the other four rinks, with single-figure wins for Graham Shadwell, Neil Smith and Russell Francis. Michael Snell’s rink came back from 20-14 down after 17 ends to win the last four ends and snatch a draw.

“To get 21 points away combined with last week’s 20 points at home is the best start Wiltshire have had for a long time.

“We need to keep the momentum going against Gloucestershire.”

For the Gloucestershire match Wiltshire are forced to make one change to the victorious team that beat Herefordshire, as Paul Stokes is unavailable, so Highworth’s Kevin Carter replaces him.

RESULTS Rink 1: Barry Sictorness (Wootton Bassett), Gary Jackson (Westlecot), Paul Macdonald (Chippenham Town) and Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) beat P Middleton 19-18. Rink 2: Kevin Embling, Tom Walkley, Gary Morphet and Neil Smith (all Wootton Bassett) beat M Ricketts 23-18. Rink 3: Nick Revell (Alderbury), Chris Cheesley (WB), Wayne Snook (Holt) and Michael Snell (WB) drew with L Harwood 20-20. Rink 4: Paul Kistle, Jay Titcombe, Graham Hatherall and Mel Biggs (all W’lecot) beat S Jones 37-15. Rink 5: Paul Stokes (W’lecot), Keith Bailey (Holt), Ian Jefferies and Mike Jackson (both W’lecot) beat R Bithell 29-16. Rink 6: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Mike Richards (W’lecot), Dave Godwin (Chip T) and Russell Francis (S Moulton) beat M Griffiths 20-13.

Score: Wiltshire beat Herefordshire 148-100 and by 21pts to 1.

OTHER GROUP SCORES West Section B: Dorset 138 (20) Gloucestershire 99 (2).

NEXT FIXTURES June 16: Wiltshire v Gloucestershire; Dorset v Somerset.

Meanwhile, the junior men’s side reached Worthing last year in the final stages of the National Under 25 Double Rinks for the White Rose Trophy.

But they failed in their bid to reach Worthing again this year, losing out to Devon last Sunday at Culm Valley BC, Cullompton.