WILTSHIRE junior men finished as runners-up for the second year in a row to Somerset in the annual May Day Four Counties U25 Tournament staged at Cheltenham BC (Suffolk Square).

They took the honours on two rinks against Worcestershire and Somerset but lost out on the other to hosts Gloucestershire going down on the last end by a single shot 21-20.

Somerset also had two winning rinks and one losing one but because they had a better shot difference took the trophy for the second year in a row as they had done in 2016.

“It was disappointing to lose out to Somerset again on shots difference,” said team manager Adam Tanner.

“However, that isn’t important as it was a very positive and useful afternoon and a very good warm-up for the boys with the White Rose Trophy, national U25 Two Fours competition, coming up soon against Gloucestershire.”

Tanner added: “Prior to that we have another U25 trial this time against Oxfordshire this coming Saturday at South Oxford (10.30am). The players have been chosen but the final team not announced in actual playing order yet.”

In the Four Team Tournament, Kyle Anderson’s rink was always ahead and led 14-6 at halfway before finally winning 21-16.

The other two rinks were both down at halfway with Craig Morphet’s foursome losing 10-5 and Mike Titcombe’s quartet adrift 13-8 at ten ends. However, both fought back well in the last quarter of the match.

Morphet’s rink went from five shots down to win 17-15 while Titcombe’s four went further behind to trail 20-11 at 15 ends but came close to snatching a win.

They cut the gap to 20-17 at 18 ends and finally went down by a shot 21-20 to Gloucestershire.

Wiltshire’s opening game in the national White Rose Trophy (U25 inter-county double rinks championship) competition this season in which they have twice reached the semi-finals in recent years is a home preliminary round tie against Gloucestershire at Royal Wootton Bassett on Sunday, May 14 (10.30am).

Awaiting the winners is a first round home match against Worcestershire at the end of May.

RESULTS

2017 May Day Four Counties U25 Tournament at Cheltenham.

Rink 1: Jordan Moody (Salisbury), Jamie Shadwell (Spencer Moulton), Gary Jackson & Mike Titcombe (both Westlecot) lost to Max Risby (Glos) 20-21. Rink 2: Tom Newman (Avon), Chris Poole (Holt), Craig Hatherall (W’lecot) & Kyle Anderson (Royal Wootton Bassett) beat Graham Weaver (Worcs) 21-16. Rink 3: James Richman (W’lecot), Ben Choules (Highworth), Adam Bolwell (S Moulton) & Craig Morphet (RWB) beat Chris Spurrey (Somerset) 17-15.

THE traditional county opener to the season Wiltshire Men’s Executive versus Swindon & District Bowling Association has been superceded in recent years since the merger of the men’s and ladies sections by Bowls Wiltshire mixed versus S&D mixed.

The annual encounter is scheduled to be held this Sunday, May 7 at Highworth (2.30pm).

Wiltshire have chosen a side that has 12 representatives from clubs around the county led by Bowls Wiltshire chairperson June Corbett (Wroughton).

Also included in the side are the BW competitions co-ordinator Gerald Webb (Devizes), Wiltshire ladies secretary Babs Salter (Wroughton) and Wiltshire men’s immediate past president Pete Sanders (Spencer Melksham).

TEAM

Rink 1: Don French (Trowbridge Town), Peter Sanders (BWM IPP, Spencer Melksham), Laura Laytham (Town Gardens) & Martin Salter (Wroughton). Rink 2: Karen Guy, Don Butchers (both Mere), Carol Woodward (Wro) & Gerald Webb (Devizes). Rink 3: George Tappenden (Ramsbury & Aldbourne), June Corbett (BW chairperson, Wro), Denis Holborow & Babs Salter (both Wro). Rink 4: Bob George (Wro), Lyn Stanford (Amesbury), Linda Whittingham (Westlecot) & Dave Richards (Trowbridge Westbourne). Rink 5: Mary Butchers (Mere), Val Groves (Haydon Wick), Jim Cremin (Town Gardens) & Brian Whittingham (W’lecot). Rink 6: Dawn Toomer, AN Other, Lesley Trattles & Geoff Toomer (all Wilton).