THE MEN at North Wilts have broken their duck at last and won a game in this season’s central section of the Wessex League.

They finally opened their account at the fourth attempt in the 2015/16 campaign with a 21-shot success over Nailsea.

North Wilts collected 12 of the 16 points on offer for two rink wins but it could so easily have been a full house 16 points.

Away in Nailsea Roger Button’s foursome led 19-12 after 18 ends and well on course for victory. But on the last three ends they dropped counts of five and two twos to end up as 21-19 losers.

While Dave Williams’ home rink at Westcroft, Chippenham, led 15-12 at 16 ends, then dropped five shots and going into the last end were tied 17-17, but their opponents grabbed a single for a narrow win.

Across the board after five ends North Wilts trailed 20-15 but at halfway led 38-30 and by 15 ends had raced 65-34 clear but the 31 shots advantage was finally reduced to 21 shots at 82-61 at the finish.

Alan Small’s away quartet recorded the biggest winning margin of 16 shots and Maurice Byrom’s four a home eight shots success this easily compensated for the other two rinks losses.

However, North Wilts will be rueing the four points they lost on two rinks as it means they are still holding up the central section on 14 points with Purnell (Paulton) just above them on 16 points.

This Sunday North Wilts face fourth-placed Thornbury in the Wessex League with their last central region game of the season against Bristol scheduled for the following Sunday, February 7.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 5: Richard Jennings, Andy Bradfield, Trevor Cooke & Maurice Byrom beat John Couch 21-13. Rink 6: Richard Ellis, Miles Pickering, Dave Edmonds & Dave Williams lost to D Gregory 17-18.

Away - Rink 1: Martin Clark, Eddie Haslop, Alan Stell & Alan Small beat P Bissett 25-9. Rink 3: Chris Farrell, Pete Sanders, Gerry Tinson & Roger Button lost to B Holloway 19-21.

Score: North Wilts beat Nailsea 82-61 and by 12pts-4pts.