HOLT reigned supreme in the men’s national fours championship semi-finals played at Chippenham Town last Saturday.

Both of their quartets, skipped by Ben Gadd and Craig Doughty, won their respective semi-finals to book a place in the county fours final at Devizes in September and the right to represent Wiltshire in the men’s national fours event at Royal Leamington Spa at the beginning of August.

Gadd’s rink full of Middleton Cup players, who had eliminated another Holt team in the quarter-finals, were too powerful for a veterans’ four from Westlecot, skipped by Mike Hall ,who had caused a big shock in the previous round when eliminating Steve Snell’s Wootton Bassett team 22-21.

Gadd’s four led Westlecot 13-5 at ten ends and 20-7 at 15 before moving 26-8 up at 18 and sealing victory.

In the other semi county newcomer Doughty’s four from Holt made a flying start against Graham Shadwell’s quartet from Spencer Moulton racing into a 9-3 lead at six ends but was 11-9 down at 11.

However, Doughty’s rink hit back with a count of five and went 18-12 up at 16 ends and were all but home leading 21-13 at 19.

But back came Shadwell’s four collecting a two and then a five on the last end to only miss out by a single shot.

Doughty’s hopes of also reaching the triples semi-finals had been ended 24 hours earlier at Westlecot when Ray Sowden’s trio had beaten them 22-13 in their delayed quarter-final.

In the other delayed quarter-final Ben Gadd’s triple from Holt cruised to a comfortable 16-3 success over Paul Sloman (Westlecot).

Gadd and Sowden will meet in their triples semi-final at Chippenham Town this coming Sunday (10am).

In the triples semi-final that did take place at Chippenham Town on Saturday evening Spencer Moulton made up for their defeat in the fours earlier in the day with a 23-19 success over Wootton Bassett to clinch a place both in the county triples final at Devizes and the national triples championships at Leamington on August 11.

RESULTS

Fours Semi-finals (at Chippenham T): Rod Summers, Tony Keating, Kevin Rowdon & Craig Doughty (Holt) beat Russell Francis, Gary Fippen, Andy Colebrooke & Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) 21-20. Wayne Simmonds, Justin Davis, Wayne Snook & Ben Gadd (Holt) beat Joe Mazzotta, Mike Titcombe Snr, Mike Bowden & Mike Hall (Westlecot) 26-8.

Delayed Triples Quarter-finals (Friday at Westlecot): Paul Kistle, Des Rideout & Paul Sloman (Westlecot) lost to Simmonds, Snook & Gadd (Holt) 3-16. Keith Williamson, John Thomas & Ray Sowden (Westlecot) beat Keating, Rowdon & Doughty (Holt) 22-13.

Triples Semi-finals (Chippenham T): James Nobbs, Terry Walton & Gary Morphet (Wootton Bassett) lost to Russell Francis, Andy Colebrooke & Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) 19-23.

Simmonds, Snook & Gadd (Holt) v Williamson, Thomas & Sowden (Westlecot) – arranged for Sunday June 15 at Chippenham T (10am).

WILTSHIRE men’s hopes of success in the Balcombe Trophy are over for this season.

They were beaten 37-25 by Warwickshire at Rugby in the opening round of the inter-county national county top two fours competition.

Disappointed Wiltshire team manager Dave Snell said: “Warwickshire got off to a fine start and led 9-1 after only three ends and increased their lead to 12 shots by eight.

“But by 14 ends Wiltshire had reduced the lead to three shots and at 18 ends were only still four shots adrift with all to play for. However over the last few ends Warwickshire increased their lead to win by 12 overall.

“Playing at Rugby Bowls Club was certainly going to be a good home advantage to Warwickshire s as six of their team play their bowls at the Rugby Club and this proved to be the case,” added Snell.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Steve Snell, Neil Smith (Wootton Bassett), Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) lost to Alan Aspey 15-18.

Rink 2: Graham Hatherall (Westlecot), Russell Francis (S Moulton), Mike Jackson & Mel Biggs (both W’lecot) lost to Calvin Wells 10-19.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Warwickshire 25-37.

WILTSHIRE men began their Middleton Cup campaign in style two weeks ago with a win over Gloucestershire at Wootton Bassett.

The Moonraker county will be looking to build on that excellent start when they entertain Worcestershire at home at Wootton Bassett on Saturday (2pm) in their second west region group match in the inter-county championship.

A win over Worcestershire on Saturday would put them in pole position to qualify with only one group match remaining.

Meanwhile, the county continue their centenary celebrations early next week with the third in a series of special men’s matches against The Dennyside at Swindon BC on June 16 (2pm).

Men’s 2014 president Dave Richards (Trowbridge Westbourne) will again lead the side seeking a victory after losing out 135-109 to Friends of English Bowling last week at North Wilts.

The team selected to play against the Dennyside is drawn from numerous clubs around the Moonraker county.

TEAM

Rink 1: Alfred Varley (Wroughton), Harry Langley, Ray Fernandes (both Swindon) & Dave Richards (pres. Trowbridge Westbourne). Rink 2: Tom Mitchell (Corsham), Michael Payne (Rodbourne Cheney), Richard Gardiner (SVP, Supermarine) & Alan Small (Wootton Bassett). Rink 3: Don French (Trow Town), Ken Bray (Avon), Andy Watson & Tudor Lloyd (both S’don). Rink 4: Philip Wells (Avon), Ron Salsbury (Westlecot), Harold Jones (WB) & George Henderson (Calne). Rink 5: Ben Hatton, Derrick Coleman (both Amesbury), Bob Hiles (S’don) & John Southern (Ames). Rink 6: Del Smith (WB), Geoff Porte (S’don), Vic Hilton (WB) & Steve Gedge (Spencer Melksham).

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