NORTH Wilts men finally broke their duck as they recorded their first win of the 2013-14 season in the Wessex League, defeating Nailsea 95-78.

The welcome success – earning 14 out of a possible 16 points – in their final match of this year’s campaign lifted the Westcroft-based Chippenham side off the foot of the central region table.

An excellent start saw North Wilts go 20-5 up across the board after only three ends. They never looked back leading 46-36 at ten ends and 80-54 at 15 but were then pulled back slightly and finally won by 17 shots.

Both rinks won at home at Westcroft with Dave Williams’ four racing into a 16-5 lead at ten ends and 29-7 up at 15 before finally winning by the comfortable margin of 15 shots.

Meanwhile, Chris Brown’s rink led 10-5 at seven ends but was 15-10 down at nine after conceding a two then a maximum count of eight. However, they battled back to level 18-18 at 15 ends, go 25-18 up at 18 but only eventually won by three shots.

Away in Nailsea Maurice Byron’s quartet was involved in a tight match only leading 7-3 at five ends, 9-8 at ten and 19-18 at 15.

He moved 25-20 up at 18 but was pegged back to a 25-23 win.

Jeff Hembrey had a rollercoaster match losing 8-3 at five ends but ahead 10-8 at ten. He moved 14-11 up at 15 but was 15-14 down at 18 and eventually lost 19-16.

It has been a difficult season for North Wilts men. In the past they have vied with Christie Miller for third spot but this time were locked in a basement battle but just escaped by one point.

RESULTS

Home

Rink 2: Richard Jennings, R Hardie, Alan Stell & Dave Williams beat Martin Thorne 29-14. Rink 3: Bob McComb, Roger Button, John Buckland & Chris Brown beat John Couch 25-22.

Away

Rink 1: Derek Clark, Peter Jacobs, Bob Hayes & Jeff Hembrey lost to B Holloway 16-19. Rink 2: Ian Manning, Dave Edmonds, Trevor Cooke & Maurice Byron beat Debroy Gregory 25-23.

Score: North Wilts 95 (14pts) Nailsea 78 (2pts).

NORTH Wilts Ladies bid to reach the final of the Yetton Plate, women’s national inter-club championship this weekend.

They will face Clacton (Essex) in the semi-final on Saturday, March 1 at Watford (12.30pm).

Clacton reached the last four with an 87-67 win over Camberley (Surrey) in the quarter-finals while North Wilts beat Arun (Bognor Regis, Sussex) 88-69.

The winners will face Erewash (Long Eaton, Notts) or Diss & District (Norfolk) – who also play their semi-final match on Saturday – in the final at Northampton on Saturday, March 29 (12.30pm) , .

North Wilts make one change for their semi-final against Clacton with Gillian Lillicrap coming off the reserves bench to replace Viv Baskerville at number two in the rink skipped by Janet Hardie. Lillicrap played in the previous match (last 16) against South Hams.

Baskerville, who would be unavailable to play in the final if North Wilts qualify, will be one of the reserves against Clacton alongside Margaret Walker and Carol Massey.

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