NORTH WILTS made a fine start in the national team events as they thrashed Nailsea last weekend in a first round tie of the Top Club competition, mixed inter-club championship.

However, the club also suffered a loss in the men’s Denny Cup, going down by 15 shots to Christie Miller.

North Wilts just missed out on collecting 16 points and a clean sweep in their Top Club match against Nailsea.

They won on three of the four disciplines, mixed pairs, mixed triples and mixed fours but did not win both the men’s and ladies singles games.

Jean Collier recorded a win in the ladies singles but Andy Bradfield only managed to snatch a 13-13 draw.

North Wilts will now face Clarrie Dunbar, who beat Clevedon 10-6 in their tie, at home in the next round on November 6.

However, their hopes in the Denny Cup were ended early in a 78-63 first round defeat to Christie Miller.

They only took the honours on the Gerry Tinson, Alan Greenland, Roger Button and Rich Gainey rink at home 22-13 as they lost the other three.

North Wilts, despite the defeat, have a second chance as they are automatically entered into the consolation tournament Denny Plate and face a first round tie on November 5 against Thornbury, who were beaten 100-51 by Clarrie Dunbar last weekend in the main Denny event.

THE county men’s representative side extended their winning run in friendly matches at the start of the season to three with a 37 shots victory at Five Rivers, Salisbury, last Saturday.

They took the honours on three of the four rinks in the 98-61 success.

The rink of Dave Richards, John Bannister, Gerry Tinson and skipped by North Wilts’ Maurice Byron led the victory path with a 27-7 win.

Wiltshire men’s next friendly match is away to Oxfordshire on November 5 at Oxford City and County (2.15pm).