ROYAL Wootton Bassett, Chippenham Town and Holt were the top clubs at Sunday’s Wiltshire men’s semi-finals day at Devizes.

Kyle Anderson (Bassett) was the most successful player, winning all his three semi-finals beating Alex Wickham (Chippenham Town) in the junior (U25) singles 21-14, defeating Jordan Moody (Salisbury) 14-12 in the two-wood singles semi-finals and combining with Gary Jackson (Westlecot) to win their junior pairs semi-final 21-12 against Westlecot duo Craig Hatherall and Mike Titcombe.

But it was rising star Titcombe who caused the biggest surprise, taking out England international Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) 21-16 early afternoon in the men’s singles semi-finals.

Shadwell led 7-4 after six ends but trailed Titcombe 11-7 after 12 and 13-11 at 16 ends.

The match was tied 15-15 after 19 ends but in the next five ends Shadwell only scored one shot while Titcombe netted a three and three singles to take the match 21-16 and book his place in the final at Devizes against Holt’s Ben Gadd who beat Tom Pittuck (Town Gardens) 21-14 leading all the way from the third end.

A Titcombe and Gadd singles final guarantees a new name on the trophy as neither have ever reached a singles final before.

Shadwell was the only player in the last four who was a previous winner that being as a teenager in 1991 his only win.

Chippenham Town’s Steve Heseltine registered two victories.

The first came in the morning men’s pairs with Alex Wickham defeating Malmesbury’s Colin Hicks (sub for Tim Bailey) and Daniel Mearns 21-18 and was a member of the afternoon victorious Chippenham side in the semis of the Over 55s fours beating Devizes on their own green 18-9.

Ben Gadd (Holt) also won his two semi - finals in the singles and skipped his team, former winners to a last end 16-15 win over Royal Wootton Bassett in the delayed triples semi-final which was eventually played Sunday evening.

To add to Holt’s tally of wins young Chris Poole teamed up with Tom Newman (Avon) in the semis of the junior (U25) pairs defeating Ben Choules (Highworth) and Craig Morphet (RWB) 19-14.

It was a day to forget for Spencer Moulton’s Graham Shadwell, besides losing in the singles to Mike Titcombe he had also tasted defeat earlier with Russell Francis in the pairs semis.

The holders had been beaten 18-12 by fellow club colleagues Gary Fippen and Nick Grenfell 18-12.

RESULTS

All matches semi-finals unless otherwise stated (at Devizes) Pairs: Gary Fippen & Nick Grenfell (Spencer Moulton) beat Russell Francis & Graham Shadwell (holders, Spencer M) 18-12. Steve Heseltine & Alex Wickham (Chip T) beat Colin Hicks & Daniel Mearns (Malmesbury) 21-18.

Junior (U25) Pairs: Chris Poole (Holt) & Tom Newman (Avon) beat Ben Choules (Highworth) & Craig Morphet (RWB) 19-14. Gary Jackson (Westlecot) & Kyle Anderson (RWB) beat Craig Hatherall & Mike Titcombe Jnr (Westlecot) 21-12.

Singles: Mike Titcombe (West) beat Graham Shadwell (SM) 21-16. Ben Gadd (Holt) beat Tom Pittuck (Town Gardens) 21-14.

Junior (U25) Singles: K Anderson (RWB) beat A Wickham (Chip T) 21-14. David Murray (Highworth) beat C Hatherall (West) 21-14.

Two wood quarter-finals: Joe Newman (Avon) lost to Wayne Simmonds (Holt) 12-13; Dave Betteridge (Trowbridge Town) beat Tom Warner (Amesbury) 16-10; K Anderson (RWB) beat Graham Hatherall (West) 13-12; A Wickham (Chip T) lost to Jordan Moody (Salisbury) 13-14.

Two wood singles semi-finals: W Simmonds (Holt) lost to Dave Betteridge 9-14. K Anderson (RWB) beat J Moody (Salisbury) 14-12.

Over 55 fours: John Lucas, Mike Travers, Steve Heseltine & Jeremy Haselton (Chip T) beat Jonathan Cook, Gerald Webb, Trefor Jones & Colin Little (Devizes) 18-9. Barry Sictorness, Terry Walton, Chris Cheesley & Mel Biggs (RWB) beat Malcolm Barker, Pete Bush, Dave Stevens & Malcolm Clift (Holt) 22-16.

Triples: Wayne Simmonds, Wayne Snook & Ben Gadd (Holt) beat Kevin Embling, Craig and Gary Morphet (RWB) 16-15.

All semi-final winners contest their respective finals at Devizes on the weekend of July 29 and 30.

THE county junior men recorded an impressive victory over Somerset last weekend to march on in the South West Counties League.

They won by seven shots running out 69-62 victors at Clevedon, and taking 10 of the 12 points on offer.

Wiltshire U25 men won on two of the rinks but lost on the third leading all the way overall for an impressive win.

They made a flying start catching hosts Somerset cold and leading across the board 28-6 after only five ends but were pulled back to 39-30 after ten ends.

Wiltshire maintained their advantage moving 55-46 up at 15 ends and 62-55 at 18 before finally winning 69-62.

Delighted U25s team manager Adam Tanner said: “I'm pleased to report another strong win for our U25s in the South West Counties League.

“Rinks skipped by Craig Hatherall (26-15) and Chris Poole (22-20) both won. Although Craig Morphet's rink was eventually beaten 27-21 by Chris Spurrey, an England U25 back-ender, it led for around half of the game.

“We won the match 69-62 on shots, 10-2 on points, and have therefore scored 22 out of a possible 24 points against competitive teams from both Devon and Somerset.”

Tanner added: “We now move on to play Cornwall at Culm Vale BC in Devon next Sunday, July 23. The team will shortly be confirmed.”

RESULTS

Rink 4: Jordan Moody (Salisbury), Liam Williams (Box), Ashley Peach (Amesbury) & Chris Poole (Holt) beat Levi Hembrow 22-20. Rink 5: David Murray (Highworth), John Hermon (Garrards), James Vincent (Alderbury) & Craig Morphet (Royal Wootton Bassett) lost to Chris Spurrey 21-27. Rink 6: George Twine (RWB), Isaac Jacob (Trowbridge Westbourne), Ben Choules (Highworth) & Craig Hatherall (Westlecot) beat R Williams 26-15.

Score: Wiltshire beat Somerset 69-62 and by 10pts to 2pts.