WILTSHIRE men ended their 2018 Middleton Cup group matches with a 10-shots home victory over Gloucestershire at Royal Wootton Bassett last Saturday to take second spot in West A group table behind Devon.

The hosts made a cracking start and led across the board 37-23 after five ends and were then 69-55 up at 10 ends.

Only two more ends were played and with the score reading 78-68, a halt was called with Wiltshire still ahead.

Rink honours at the time were tied 3-3, so the match was declared as a 16 points to 6 points win to Wiltshire.

This result moved Wiltshire up to second place in the table but 22 points adrift of Devon, who once again move into the West regional Middleton Cup final and quarter-finals.

  • ROYAL Wootton Bassett bowlers dominated the third round in the Wiltshire men’s singles championship played down to the last 16 around various venues in the county on Monday.

Half of the 16 players left standing were from Bassett. Spencer Moulton were next best with two qualifiers, Russell Francis and Adam Bolwell, while six separate clubs supplied the remaining players – Town Gardens, Chippenham Town, Holt , Avon, Salisbury and Amesbury.

All of the 16 players were hoping to keep their hopes alive of singles success at Westlecot and Holt last night to reach the quarter-finals that will be staged at Royal Wootton Bassett on Monday.

Last year’s winner, Ben Gadd (Holt), did not enter this season to defend his crown.

Only four previous winners were left in the competition prior to Friday’s last 16 stage – Bassett trio Dave Godwin, Graham Hatherall and Neil Smith, and Amesbury’s Mickey Tyler.

  • U25 MEN’S junior singles and pairs competitions have reached the last four.

Three local players are still running in the singles – Mike Titcombe (Westlecot) as well as the two Craig Morphet and Craig Hatherall from Royal Wootton Bassett.

While in the pairs, Westlecot and Bassett both have one combination left.

The semi-finals will be played at Devizes on Sunday July 22.

  • SWINDON & District men’s side were the first latest visitors to Haydon Wick to help the club celebrate their 25th anniversary.

In the special game, S&D took the accolades with a 22-shots victory, although the rink honours were shared 3-3.

S&D led 33-27 overall after five ends but Wick had edged in front 60-58 after 10. The District side regained the lead at 15 ends 85-79, and extended it to 108-89 at 18 before finishing as 126-104 winners.

Top rink for S&D were the officers rink led by president Maurice Simpson (Faringdon), who won their game 27-9.

Top rink for hosts Haydon Wick were the foursome led by Bob Thorley, who registered a 26-14 success.

Haydon Wick face Bowls Wiltshire in a mixed celebration game on July 21.