NORTH Wilts men produced a battling display but had to give second best to Bristol in their second round Denny Cup tie.

They went down by 24 shots, losing to Bristol 90-66 and only taking the honours on one of the four rinks in the inter-club championship game.

Dave Williams' foursome made a slow start and trailed 9-1 after five ends and were 16-10 down at 15, but fought back well to win four of the last six ends and snatch a 20-19 victory.

He was nearly joined in the winner’s circle by Maurice Byrom’s four who were involved in a tight match throughout and after drawing 3-3 at five ends and 15-15 at 18 finally lost 19-16.

The other two rinks lost by 14 and eight shots (including a five on the last end).

RESULTS

Home - Rink 5: Richard Jennings, Alan Greenland, Ashley Ponting & Maurice Byrom lost to A Forster 16-19. Rink 6: Gerry Scott, Dave Edmonds, Richard Button & Richard Gainey lost to Paul Bryant 19-27.

Away - Rink 3: Bob George, Gerry Tinson, Alan Stell & Dave Williams beat Eric Seavill 20-19. Rink 4: Miles Pickering, Peter Sanders, Trevor Cooke & Alan Small lost to Mike Smith 11-25.

Score: North Wilts lost to Bristol 66-90.

NORTH WILTS Club have a busy fortnight ahead of them with six sides still actively involved in national team competitions.

First up are the ladies team who won the Yetton Trophy in the 2007/08 season who face local rivals Clarrie Dunbar in a third round tie this coming Saturday - two rinks home and two away.

Also on the ladies front the Mason Trophy B team meet Clevedon in the second round of the competition by November 27 - O60s Double Rinks.

While in the Vivienne Trophy North Wilts, who were losing quarter-finalists last season and beat West Berks (Newbury) 66-60 last week, face Bristol in round two on December 3 - two triples home and away.

The North Wilts mixed teams are still running in the two main national mixed competitions, Egham Trophy and Top Club.

Their next round opponents in both are Clarrie Dunbar on Sunday November 29 and by December 6 respectively in Egham and Top Club.

And finally in the men’s national team competitions the O60s double rinks side who edged home on an extra end in the last round face Thornbury in round three, to be played by next Friday, November 27.

ALEX JACOBS’ bid to become the first player in the area to book a place in a national final this season continues this weekend.

After 21-15 and 21-12 victories over Pauline Dando (Purnell, Paulton) and Bev Lilley (Christie Miller, Melksham) respectively in the quarter and semi-finals of the champion of champions competition she has qualified for the Area 30 final.

Jacobs has been drawn away and faces Ros Constant on her own green at Ashton Vale, Bristol, in the final this Sunday, November 22.

The winner moves forward to the last 32 and inter-area final against the area 29 winner, which is just one step away from the last 16 and national finals at Warner Leisure, Hayling Island at the end of next January.

THIS WEEKEND sees second round matches in the central section of the men’s regional Wessex League competition being staged.

North Wilts men had a bye in the first round as there are seven teams in the central section - Bristol, Christie Miller, Clarrie Dunbar, Nailsea, Purnell, Thornbury and of course North Wilts.

The Westcroft -based Chippenham team therefore open up their 2015/16 Wessex campaign this Sunday morning (10am) with a match against Purnell (Paulton) - two rinks home and two away.