BOWLS: Trial defeat for county men (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

BOWLS: Trial defeat for county men

9:30am Thursday 17th May 2012 in Sport

THE first Middleton Cup trial of the season did not go to plan for Wiltshire’s new cup manager Dave Snell, writes DAVE EATON.

His selected side were beaten by 16 shots at Royal Wootton Bassett last Sunday morning by Westlecot, the reigning County Four Rink League play-off champions, going down 65-81.

Wiltshire only took the honours in one of the four matches in the traditional Middleton Cup trial against Wiltshire’s top league side.

The lone success was recorded on the rink skipped by Chippenham Town’s Paul Macdonald who beat Ian Jefferies’ quartet by five shots.

They led from the third end and were never headed. Macdonald’s rink moved nine shots clear at one stage but was pulled back in the latter stages.

However, fellow Chippenham Town skip Dave Godwin lost by nine shots, Wayne Snook (Holt) by seven while Gary Morphet’s home Bassett rink lost by five shots.

Middleton Cup manager Snell will be looking for better fortunes in a fortnight’s time when he hopes that the players who missed the first trial will be available for the second.

RESULTS

Wiltshire names first

Rink 2: Tom Skull, Kevin Embling (Wootton Bassett), Keith Bailey (Holt) and Paul Macdonald (Chippenham T) beat Kyle Anderson, Mike Titcombe Jnr, Matt Webster and Ian Jefferies 20-15.

Rink 3: Josh Cottle, Tom Walkley (both WB) and Wayne Snook (Holt) lost to John Thomas (John Anderson), Paul Stokes, Mike Shawyer and Graham Hatherall (John Thomas) 17-24.

Rink 4: Keith Carter (Highworth), James Nobbs, Chris Cheesley and Gary Morphet (all WB) lost Paul Kistle, Des Rideout, Jay Titcombe and Mel Biggs 16-21 (18 ends).

Rink 5: Nick Revell (Alderbury), Wayne Simmonds (Holt) and Dave Godwin (Chip T) lost to Gary Jackson, Paul Sloman, Michael Richards and Mike Jackson 12-21.

Result: Wiltshire lost to Westlecot 65-81.

MORE SPORTS NEWS & PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES