IAN Williams' first taste of an individual event at the English Bowling Association national championships turned to despair with a one shot defeat.

The 23-year-old Purton player was making his debut at Worthing on Sunday having only been able to compete in the main events this year.

But it was not a debut to remember after he came within sight of the finishing line but was not able to cross it.

Williams, representing Wiltshire in the under 25 singles, was involved in a tight first round match early on with Jamie Gibbs (Middlesex) with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions.

However, at 14-13 down, Williams picked-up a succession of singles to move 20-14 up but then dropped a three.

Twice Williams was then holding game shot but each time Gibbs turned the match in his favour, picking up two two's to win 21-20.

"I am absolutely gutted to lose after being 20-14 up," said Williams.

"He played well but I should have still won the turning point was the three I gave away.

"He then gave away the mat but I was holding game shot, until he moved the jack, and on the next I had two shots until he drew to within a couple of inches of the jack twice."

Meanwhile Wiltshire's first ever entry into the Amy Rosebowl, the national women's under 31 double rink competition, was thwarted in the first round at Leamington Spa when they lost 34-48 to Sussex.

The girls battled throughout against their more experienced opponents.

Becky Scott's rink was under pressure for much of the match, but they never gave up, with a determined Samantha Heenan showing very good form throughout.

In the end they lost 13-26, but that score did not totally reflect the game.

Debbie Shadwell's rink dropped a count of six on the first end, but stormed back to take the lead.

With Victoria Harding was having a fine match at lead, and after holding the advantage for most of the match, had a deserved rink victory snatched away from them on the last end as they went down 21-22.

For Wiltshire, their first experience of top-level competition at the Mecca of women's bowls was wonderful occasion.

The team acquitted themselves very well and will be disappointed not to have progressed further.

Team: Rink 1: Victoria Harding (Wroughton), Katherine Heenan (Salisbury Victoria), Sarah Cottle (Bradford-on-Avon) and Debbie Shadwell (Cooper-Avon) lost 21-22.

Rink 2: Charlotte Harding (Wroughton), Louise Tinnion (Devizes), Samantha Heenan (Salisbury Victoria) and Becky Scott (West End) lost 13-26.

l Wootton Bassett duo Barbara Twine and Barry Sictorness are through to the last 32 in the National Mixed Pairs.

They won the Wiltshire title with their sixth victory of the competition, a convincing 21-13 win over Marlborough's Trevor and Ellen Bolland in the county final.

The Wootton Bassett partnership now represent Wiltshire and progress to the regional final that will be held at Winscombe in the county of Somerset on August 29.

They face Isle of Wight and if successful then play the winners of Herefordshire and Somerset.

Eight teams will compete at four regional finals around the country with two from each venue qualifying for the finals weekend to be staged at Egham (Surrey) on September 25 and 26.