WILTSHIRE men made a successful start to their 2013 Middleton Cup campaign with a 12-shot away win against Gloucestershire as they came from behind to run-out 120-108 victors.

Dave Snell's visitors were made to work hard for their national inter-county championship group triumph, taking the honours on just two of the six rinks at Barnwood Bowls Club (Gloucester).

Mike Jackson’s rink won by six shots while Mel Biggs, celebrating his 100th Middleton Cup appearance for the Moonrakers, led his quartet to a hard-fought draw in his match.

However, Wiltshire were in indebted to the foursome of Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Chris Cheesley (Wootton Bassett), Dave Godwin (Chippenham Town) and skip Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton) who swung the match their way with a magnificent 27-shot victory (40-13) over John Roach’s rink.

It enabled Wiltshire to take the overall shots win and the ten points on offer for that plus two twos from rink successes and one point for a draw to record a 15-7 points victory over Gloucestershire who are a very strong side at home.

Across the board Wiltshire trailed 30-26 at five ends, 50-38 at eight but had hit back to draw level at 59-59 at 11 and lead 68-61 an end later.

The home side rallied to level 79-79 at 15 ends but the Moonrakers then stepped up a few gears to power away to a 12 shot victory.

Wiltshire’s selectors have named an unchanged side for the next match which is away against Worcestershire on Saturday, June 15.

RESULT

Rink 1: Nick Revell (Amesbury), Paul Macdonald (Chippenham Town), Ben Gadd (Holt) & Stephen Snell (Wootton Bassett) lost to Lee Williamson 17-24.

Rink 2: Kevin Embling (Westlecot), James Nobbs, Gary Morphet & Neil Smith (all WB) lost to Chris Davies 15-19.

Rink 3: Kyle Anderson (WB), Keith Bailey, Wayne Snook (both Holt) & Mike Jackson (W’lecot) beat Rob Griffiths 19-13.

Rink 4: Paul Kistle (W’lecot), Tom Walkley (WB), Graham Hatherall & Mel Biggs (both W’lecot) drew with Paul Bryant 15-15.

Rink 5: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Chris Cheesley (WB), Dave Godwin (Chip T) & Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton) beat john Roach 40-13.

Rink 6: Gary Jackson (W’lecot), Billy McCay (Chip T), Steve Wiltshire & Graham Shadwell (both SM) lost to Dave Howes 14-24.

Score: Wiltshire beat Gloucestershire 120-108 and 15-7 on points.

TWENTY-FOUR hours later Wiltshire recorded another victory as they outgunned Warwickshire at Wootton Bassett in the first round of the Balcombe Trophy, men’s national county top two fours competition.

The match was tight to halfway (ten ends) with the scores across the board tied at 21-21.

But then the two rinks skipped by Westlecot’s Biggs and England international Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) pulled away to lead 35-24 at 15 ends and eventually clinch a 26-shot success.

Wiltshire progress to the regional final that has been switched and will now be played at Cotswold (Stroud) Bowls Club on Sunday, June 16, but the draw is still to be announced.

RESULTS

Rink 2: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), David Godwin (Chippenham Town), Stephen Snell (Wootton Bassett) & Mel Biggs (Westlecot) beat Alan Apsey 26-15..

Rink 4: James Nobbs, Gary Morphet, Neil Smith (all WB) & Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) beat Colin Jacox 27-12.

Score: Wiltshire beat Warwickshire 53-27.

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