ALEX Jacobs missed out at the ladies champion of champions final stages at Warner Lakeside, Hayling Island.

In a close last-16 match, Jacobs led Barbara Lewis (Barwell) 20-19 but on the next end Lewis, who was holding one shot managed to make a two, to seal the game 21-19.

Lewis won her next two games comfortably 21-12 and 21-16 but then lost 21-14 in the final to 20 year-old Katherine Rednall (Ipswich), the 2014 ladies world matchplay champion and 2016 world pairs championship winner the previous week with Scotland’s Darren Burnett.

Jacobs still has of national opportunities as she is through to three inter-area finals in the ladies O50s two wood triples, ladies triples and fours championships as well as the Area 30 finals in both the ladies singles and pairs championships.

DAVE Williams, the Wiltshire men’s county indoor secretary, is the only male bowler at North Wilts left with an interest in any of the men’s national championship events.

He is through to the men’s singles championship final in Area 30 after a 21-15 victory over Clarrie Dunbar’s John Freeman on Monday.

He will now face England international Graham Shadwell from Trowbridge, (Clarrie Dunbar) in the area final.

Williams, has also retained is place in the Wiltshire side for the Liberty Trophy, men’s inter-county championship clash with Northamptonshire in the quarter-finals at Westlecot on Saturday at 10am.

He was a late call-up for the unavailable Craig Morphet to the Neil Smith rink in the match against Hampshire three weeks ago. They won their game 21-19 and Williams deservedly retains his place.

NORTH WILTS ladies hopes of a national success this season on the team front rest with the Vivienne Trophy side.

They face Dorchester in a last-eight tie next Thursday, February 11 (2pm).

TEAM

Home - Rink 1: Margaret Cooke, Lyn Brown & Rosemary Fitzpatrick. Rink 2: June Coyle, Pam West & Brenda Bowen.

Away - Rink 1: Fay Allen, Beryl Waters & June Northam. Rink 2: Marilyn Mayhead, Janet Williams & Eirona Carpenter.

HOPES of avoiding the wooden spoon in the Wessex League central section took an almighty blow last Sunday for North Wilts men.

They were beaten by 35 shots by fourth-placed Thornbury as they slumped to a 98-63 loss.

This left them propping up the seven-team central regional table two points behind Purnell (Paulton) with only one match remaining while Purnell still have two matches to play.

North Wilts made a satisfactory start against Thornbury and across the board only trailed 22-17 after five ends. However, the match was lost in the next five ends as North Wilts only scored seven shots but dropped a massive 40 shots to trail 62-24 at 10 ends.

They managed to close the floodgates but could only reduce the deficit from 38 shots to 35 as they finished as 98-63 losers.

The only rink to take any credit from the game was the foursome of Richard Jennings, Gerry Tinson, Roger Button and Richard Gainey who won their match at home 23-16. The other three all lost with 10 shots being the minimum defeat.

North Wilts conclude a very disappointing 2015/16 Wessex campaign this Sunday when they face joint leaders Bristol.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 6: Richard Jennings, Gerry Tinson, Roger Button & Richard Gainey beat Colin Luton 23-16. Rink 5: Martin Clark, Eddie Haslop, Alan Stell & Alan Small lost to Jim Cooper 10-27.

Away - Rink 4: Richard Ellis, Chris Farrell, Alan Greenland & Dave Williams lost to A Tregoning 12-27. Rink 3: Andy Bradfield, Clive Swift, Trevor Cooke & Maurice Byrom lost to Ted Mangan 18-28.

Score: North Wilts lost to Thornbury 63- 98 and by 2pts-14pts.

OTHER SCORES: Clarrie Dunbar 108 (16pts) Christie Miller 58 (0pts); Nailsea 79 (14pts) Purnell 64 (2pts); North Wilts 63 (2pts) Thornbury 98 (14pts).

REMAINING FIXTURES

Sunday February 7: Bristol v North Wilts; Nailsea v Clarrie Dunbar; Thornbury v Purnell.

February 21: Christie Miller v Purnell.