WILTSHIRE produced a storming finish to come from behind and beat Oxfordshire by 11 shots in their opening Middleton Cup trial at Chippenham Town.
They trailed 36-20 overall after five ends, cut the gap to only 58-53 at 10 ends, but were still 92-79 adrift at 15 ends.
However, they picked up 31 shots in the next three ends to storm into a 108-102 lead at 18 ends and held their nerve for a 127-116 triumph.
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The win was even more remarkable as at two ends, only the Mike Jackson rink was ahead while two others were at least 10 shots adrift and staring big defeats in the face.
However, Wiltshire dug deep and shared the rink honours at 3-3 and cut the deficits on the other three to no more than three shots.
The biggest win was recorded by the Jackson rink. They were pegged back to 14-13 at 15 ends but raced away to a 28-16 win, while Andrew Colebrooke and Billy McCay's rinks both won by three shots.
"It was a good win and great fightback," said Wiltshire' s Middleton Cup manager George Henderson.
"To comeback from 13 shots down at 15 ends and win by 11 shots at 21 ends was a fine achievement.
"Oxfordshire are a good side and had a fair proportion of the normal Middleton Cup side playing which makes the victory even more pleasing."
RESULTS
Rink 1: James Nobbs, Norman Gould, Jeremy Haselton and Steve Heseltine (all Chippenham Town) lost to Ryan Buckett 20-22.
Rink 2: Stewart Allison, Martin Whittaker, Malcolm Drew (all Westinghouse) and Andrew Colebrooke (Spencer Moulton) beat Calvin Carpenter 19-16.
Rink 3: Richard Jennings (Chip T), Terry Spreadbury, Steve Mitchell (both Amesbury) and Billy McCay (Chip T) beat Mark Charlett 21-18.
Rink 4: Tony Keating (S Moulton), Chris Cheesley (Purton), Ben Gadd (Holt) and Ian Williams (Purton) lost to Howard Watts 22-24.
Rink 5: David Johns (Calne), Mike Shawyer, Des Rideout and Mike Jackson (all Westlecot) beat Mark Sykes 28-16.
Rink 6: Ben Hatton (Amesbury), Dan Hodges (Holt), Paul Macdonald (S Moulton) and Gary Morphet (Rodbourne Cheney) lost to Baden Sparkes 17-20.
Score: Wiltshire beat Oxfordshire 127-116.
WILTSHIRE continue their build-up to their first Middleton Cup match against Cornwall at St Austell at the end of the month on Saturday.
They entertain neighbours Berkshire at Chippenham Town (2pm).
The selectors have made numerous changes with only five players who featured in the win over Oxfordshire taking part.
TEAM
Rink 1: Wayne Snook (Holt), Jeff Nichols (Westlecot), Andrew Colebrooke and Russell Francis (both Spencer Moulton).
Rink 2: Tom Walkley (Wootton Bassett), Mickey Crook (Amesbury), Ian Williams (Purton) and Dave Snell (WB).
Rink 3: Kevin Embling, Kyle Anderson, Mike Shawyer and Mel Biggs (all Westlecot).
Rink 4: David Godwin (Chippenham Town), Miles Roberts, Paul Sloman and Mark Dyer (all Westlecot).
Rink 5: Michael Richards, Paul Kistle (both Westlecot), Ben Gadd (Holt) and Neil Smith (Westlecot).
Rink 6: Wayne Simmons, Keith Bailey (both Holt), Keith Hutchens (Westinghouse) and Steve Snell (WB).
Res: John Ellis (Amesbury) and John Thomas (Westlecot).
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