BOWLS: Wiltshire one win from last four (From Swindon Advertiser)

BOWLS: Wiltshire one win from last four

6:00am Saturday 30th June 2012 in Other Sport

WILTSHIRE men are still on course to reach Worthing this year after becoming the first county to clinch a quarter-final spot in the Middleton Cup.

They are now just one match and one win away from booking a place in the last four of the inter-county championships.

The Moonrakers produced a magnificent team performance to beat Somerset by 14 shots in their crunch group match at North Petherton to secure a place in the last eight of the competition.

Wiltshire ran-out 129-115 victors to win their Middleton Cup West Group Section B shoot-out to collect 16 points out of a possible 22.

This latest victory, Wiltshire’s fourth in a row, moves them into an unassailable position at the top of the group table on 78 points even though Somerset (48pts) still have one match to play on July 7 against Gloucestershire.

This clinched a quarter-final place at Oxford City and County in July against either Berkshire or Surrey who play their final south group match at Egham on July 7.

A very happy Wiltshire team manager Dave Snell said: “This was a very pleasing result to win against an excellent Somerset side on their home green and complete four wins to win the group.”

He added: “As in all previous matches it was a superb team spirit and they should all be very proud of their performances during the series. I am delighted.”

-THE Moonrakers missed out 24 hours later when failing to book a place at Worthing in the men’s national inter-county top two fours competition.

They were beaten 43-39 by Dorset in their Balcomb Trophy regional semi-final played at Clevedon last Sunday despite rink honours being shared one each.

Graham Shadwell’s foursome won by six shots in a 24-18 success but Mel Biggs’ quartet lost by ten shots.

- BOTH men’s senior and junior county sides lost to Devon in their latest South West Counties League matches last weekend.

The senior men were beaten 144-106 on the neutral green at Ashcombe Park, Weston-Super-Mare while the Under 25 side faired little better losing 71-55 at the same venue.

Wiltshire only won on two of the six rinks in the main match with five shot successes recorded by the rinks skipped by Highworth’s Richard Young and Nick Grenfell (Box).

And in the under 25s junior match, Wiltshire only took the honours on one of the three rinks with Gary Jackson’s quartet winning by one shot on the 21st and last end.