BOWLS: Wilts men fall at final Middleton hurdle (From Swindon Advertiser)

BOWLS: Wilts men fall at final Middleton hurdle

6:00am Tuesday 28th August 2012 in Local

WILTSHIRE men just missed out in their bid to win the Middleton Cup for only the second time in their 98-year history.

They were beaten by four shots in the final, going down 118-114 to Norfolk in Worthing on Saturday afternoon.

Wiltshire only took the honours on two of the six rinks.

Earlier in the day they had beaten Leicestershire 113-109, while in the other semi-final Norfolk had beaten holders Devon 122-118.

But Wiltshire did win a national title at Worthing.

Trowbridge’s husband and wife duo of Graham and Debbie Shadwell, who play out of the Spencer Moulton club in Bradford on Avon, won the mixed pairs.

In the final they beat Catherine and Stuart Popple 21-15, while in the semi-final they had beaten Hampshire 23-10.

This was the third time in as many years that the Shadwells had reached the final. They took the title in 2010 but were beaten in last year’s final.

In the Wilts Men’s Four-rink League quarter-final play-off last Sunday, Holt beat Wootton Bassett , Spencer Moulton defeated Amesbury, Highworth accounted for Alderberry while holders Westlecot beat neighbours Swindon BC.

The semi-finals will be played this Sunday (10.30am), with Holt meeting holders Westlecot at Devizes while Spencer Moulton face Highworth at Chippenham Town.