CHIPPENHAM Town's foursome of Rob Clews, Jim Fitzpatrick, Richard Gainey and skip Neil Connor are through to the final of the county men’s national fours and will also represent Wiltshire in the national men’s championships at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

They clinched their spot in the county final and for Leamington with a battling 20-16 victory over Royal Wootton Bassett at Devizes on Sunday afternoon.

The match was a close affair for the first half of the game with the lead constantly changing but Town just held the edge in the second-half.

Bassett held a slim 6-5 lead after five ends and at halfway were 10-9 up (11 ends) but back came Chippenham to take control drawing level at 10-10 at 12 ends and leading 14-10 at 15 and 16-12 at 18.

A three on the 19th to put them 19-12 up appeared to have sealed it for Chippenham but back came Bassett with a four on end 20 to cut the gap to 19-16 however, a single on the last gave Town a superb 20-16 win.

In the fours final at the end of July, Chippenham Town will face Holt quartet Wayne Simmonds, Justin Davis, Wayne Snook and Ben Gadd, the winners in 2014 who beat Swindon 33-13 in their semi-final.

One of the men’s county triples championship semis was also played at Devizes on Sunday with Justin Davis skipping his Holt trio to an 18-15 success over a battling Highworth trio skipped by Rod Etherington.

The other triples semi-final with be played on July 16 between Royal Wootton Bassett and Holt as it clashed with the White Rose U25 west regional finals at West Backwell in which Bassett’s Craig Morphet was skipping one rink for Wiltshire junior men.

RESULTS

Men’s Semi-finals (at Devizes) Fours: Rob Clews, Jim Fitzpatrick, Rich Gainey & Neil Connor (Chippenham Town) beat Tom Walkley, Terry Walton, Neil Smith & Mel Biggs (Royal Wootton Bassett) 20-16; Wayne Simmonds, Justin Davis, Wayne Snook & Ben Gadd (Holt) beat Micky Pearce, Steve Barker, Geoff Porte & Carl Fernandes (Swindon) 33-13.

Triples: Robbie Jeffreys, Pete Hardie & Justin Davis (Holt) beat David Murray, Mark Richman & Rob Etherington (Highworth) 18-15.

Other triples semi-final - Devizes July 16 (time TBC): Craig Morphet, Kevin Embling & Gary Morphet (RWB) v W Simmons, W Snook & B Gadd (Holt).

WILTSHIRE men head their west group in the Middleton Cup (inter-county championship) after another winning performance at home at Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday.

They made it two wins out of two, following up their win over holders Devon with a comfortable 140-106 home success over Worcestershire.

Three of Wiltshire's rinks managed comfortable wins, Ben Gadd storming to a 17-0 lead after eight ends, and going on to win 33-15 while Russell Francis was level at 9-9 after 12 ends, but produced a superb second-half performance to win 32-13.

Graham Shadwell led by just one shot after 18 ends, before 10 shots in the final three ends gave his rink a 27-16 win.

Mel Biggs was beaten 19-17 by the final bowl, Justin Davis conceded three on the final end to also lose 19-17 and Neil Smith was beaten 24-14, largely due to some excellent play by senior England international Andy Walters.

Wiltshire's Adam Tanner said: “Two wins from two ensure that we remain six points clear of our main contenders Devon. Scoring 17 or more points in our final fixture, away to Gloucestershire on July 8, would therefore guarantee qualification (for the quarter-finals).”

RESULTS

Rink 1: Tom Warner (Amesbury), Mike Titcombe, Ian Jefferies (both Westlecot) & Neil Smith (player/manager, Royal Wootton Bassett) lost to Andy Walters 14-24. Rink 2: Mike Richards, Jamie Titcombe (both West), Gary Morphet & Mel Biggs (both RWB) lost to Grant Burgess 17-19. Rink 3: James Richman (West), Chris Cheesley, Dave Godwin (both RWB) & Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton) beat Keith Weaver 32-13. Rink 4: Gary and Mike Jackson, Graham Hatherall (all West) & Graham Shadwell (S Moulton) beat Rob Stanley 27-16. Rink 5: Craig Doughty (Holt), Colin Easton (Avon), Steve Snell (RWB) & Justin Davis (Holt) lost to Rob McCaughtrie 17-19. Rink 6: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Craig Hatherall (West), Wayne Snook and Ben Gadd (both Holt) beat Steve Poyner 33-15.

Score: Wiltshire beat Worcestershire 140-106 and by 16pts to 6pts.

THE county junior men’s side could not match the seniors on Sunday at West Backwell (Somerset) in the west regional final of the White Rose Trophy (U25 double rinks).

Despite leading at halfway against their nemesis Devon they faded to lose out.

At five ends overall Wiltshire were up in one match and down in the other but 9-8 down. However, at 10 ends they led in both matches Mike Titcombe up 13-8 and Craig Morphet 10-8 up and ahead 23-16.

However everything then went pear-shaped and they found themselves down in both games Morphet trailing 19-11 and Titcombe 19-18 and overall were 38-29 down at 15 ends.

The next end gave Wiltshire renewed hope Morphet grabbed a five and Titcombe a two to cut the gap to only 38-36 overall.

But then Devon moved up a couple of gears as Titcombe dropped two, four, and another four to trail 29-20 while Morphet dropped two singles and a two to go 23-16 adrift. At this point with only 19 ends played in both games a halt was called with Wiltshire losing 52-36.

In the west regional final Devon beat Somerset 41-37 to book a last four place in the White Rose Trophy at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

RESULTS

Rink 4: Gary Jackson (Westlecot), Jamie Shadwell (Spencer Moulton), Ben Choules (Highworth) & Craig Morphet (Royal Wootton Bassett ) lost to Dominic Tuckett 16-23. Rink 5: James Richman (West), Chris Poole (Holt), Craig Hatherall & Mike Titcombe (both West) lost to Harry Goodwin 20-29.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Devon 36-52.

WILTSHIRE men will be bidding to win the regional final in the Balcombe Trophy on Sunday at Bristol BC (Somerset).

The Moonrakers have avoided Devon in the double rinks event draw and will face Dorset in the semi-finals.

If successful, they would then meet the winners of Herefordshire and Devon in the final with the regional champion booking a last four place at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

To date Wiltshire have beaten Worcestershire 49-34 in a first round tie and will rely on the same side for the Dorset semi-final.

TEAM

Rink 1: Gary Jackson (Westlecot), Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton),Ben Gadd (Holt) & Graham Shadwell (S Moulton); Rink 2: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Dave Godwin, Gary Morphet & Mel Biggs (all Royal Wootton Bassett). Res: Tom Warner (Amesbury) and Neil Smith (RWB).