ROYAL Wootton Bassett men's Bowls England men’s senior four champions from last August will represent England in the senior fours discipline at the 2018 men’s British Isles Championships being held at Leamington later this week.

The foursome of Barry Sictorness, Terry Walton, Chris Cheesley and Mel Biggs (skip) won the Over 55 fours title last summer and will take on teams from Guernsey, Ireland, Jersey, Wales and Scotland.

Biggs foursome meet the winners of Jersey and Wales in the first semi-final on Thursday with Scotland drawn in the second semi against either Guernsey or Ireland.

Bassett will be trying to emulate Purton ladies, who represented England in the ladies triples at the British Isles Championships last week in Belfast and won their sectional title.

n SWINDON & District men continued their programme of mixed friendlies this season with an away game against Southampton & District BA at Pirrie Park, Upper Shirley, Southampton last weekend.

The match was close throughout and resulted in a 119-119 draw with rink honours also shared 3-3.

Swindon & District trailed across the board 23-26 at five ends but had turned matters around to lead 53-45 at 10 ends.

They continued to lead throughout the second-half until being pegged back at the finish. They led 83-80 at 15 ends, and 104-101 at 18 before seeing the three shots advantage wiped out at the finish with both sides tied 119-119.

Top rink honours went to the Westlecot rink skipped by Gerry Charman (eight shots) and the Highworth rink skipped by Jo Hicks (three shots).

The biggest victory was recorded though by the mixed Marlborough and Highworth foursome supplemented by fixture secretary Mark Richman (Westlecot) and skipped by Stuart Murray who won 29-19.

Swindon & District continue their 2018 friendly matches tomorrow (Sunday) when they entertain Oxford VP’s Bowling Association at Faringdon (2.30pm) the home green of this season’s president Maurice Simpson.

The six rinks team selected is drawn from the Faringdon, Garrards, Marlborough, Supermarine and Highworth clubs only supplemented by several S&D officers from Westlecot, Faringdon and Purton.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Ian Webb, Bob Wilson, Shaun and Jo Hicks (all Highworth) beat Bernard Dowleys 21-18. Rink 2: Malcolm Ellis, Norman Dow (both Marlborough), Mark Richman (fixture sec, Westlecot) & Stuart Murray (Highworth) beat Adie Booth 29-19. Rink 3: Geoff Blackwell, Dave Templar, Trevor and John Hermon (all Garrards) lost to Andy Pattison 15-26. Rink 4: Emma Payne (Faringdon), Alan Penfold (Supermarine), Robin Haines & Maurice Simpson (president, both Faringdon) lost to Joe Ralph 18-21. Rink 5: Angela Harrison, Sue Fletcher, Oliver Moody & Luke Visor (all Wroughton) lost to Bill Bailey 15-22. Rink 6: Lorraine Dickson, Jamie Little, Dave Jenkins & Gerry Charman (all Westlecot) beat Dave Turner 21-13.

Score: Swindon & District drew with Southampton & D 119-119.