WILTSHIRE’S junior men continued their build-up to the White Rose Trophy, national U25s two fours competition, this weekend with a comprehensive 96-58 victory over Oxfordshire U25s at Swindon BC last Saturday.

The team, comprising 10 local players out of the 16-strong side, took the honours on all four rinks, but two of the games were close finishes with Mike Titcombe’s rink winning by one shot and Westlecot colleague James Richman leading his rink to a 20-18 win.

Despite dropping a five on the last end, Basset’s Craig Hatherall and his quartet won 21-16.

Top accolades, though, went to Royal Wootton Bassett skip Craig Morphet.

His foursome that included Adam Bolwell (Spencer Moulton), Hayden Daniell (RWB) and Tom Newman (Avon), were in impressive form throughout, powering to a 37-7 victory.

They also notched a bowls rarity on end nine of their game, with a maximum count of eight shots.

They followed this success over Oxfordshire two days later with victory in the annual three-rink Bank Holiday Monday Four Counties U25s Tournament, staged this year in Somerset at Clevedon.

The tournament features sides from Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.

This year’s tournament was closely contested and went down to shots difference, but Wiltshire emerged triumphant as their two wins and plus-13 shots was high enough to fend off Worcestershire.

Once again as in the match, Morphet’s rink were in impressive form.

They trailed 3-2 at five ends but led 10-5 at 10 and 17-5 at 15, but pulled back to only 17-11 at 17. However, they finished with a flourish to win 30-11.

Titcombe’s rink also recorded a win but only by one shot despite being 11-5 up at 10 ends. He was pulled right back to 17-17 on end 20 but held his nerve to record a single on the last end for an 18-17 victory.

Hatherall’s rink struggled throughout their match and trailed 10-4 after six ends and 25-11 at 16, but did manage to cut the deficit in half to 25-18 after 18 ends and maintain that deficit to the finish, finally losing 27-20.

Overall, this was Wiltshire’s third win in this annual May Day tournament in five years and boosted their confidence for their next challenge this coming weekend.

Wiltshire U25s men begin their quest for national glory when they entertain Somerset at Royal Wootton Bassett in the opening round of the White Rose, double rinks competition on Sunday.

Seven of the eight players announced by team manager Adam Tanner are from clubs in the Swindon area.