NORTH Wilts men suffered their second heavy defeat in a fortnight in the Wessex League when they slumped to a 47-shot loss to neighbours Christie Miller in their central region game on Sunday morning, writes DAVE EATON.

The Chippenham-based club struggled from the outset and went down in the local derby to Melksham’s Christie Miller 105-58 and only took the honours on one of the four rinks by the slim margin of two shots.

Across the board North Wilts trailed 26-12 after five ends and 55-26 at 10. That deficit increased to 79-42 at 15 ends and 105-58 after 21.

At home at Westcroft, North Wilts struggled badly. Skip Rich Gainey was 10-1 down after five ends, then dropped a six and a five to trail 26-3 after only 10. He did fightback a little to cut the finally deficit to 31-19.

Keith Hutchens also found life tough. His rink lost 31-7.

Dave Williams’ away rink led 10-9 at nine ends but finally lost 29-16.

The only North Wilts success came in Melksham where Darren Anteney’s rink were 7-0 down at four ends but hit back to draw level at 9-9 after 13 and lead 15-10 after 18 ends, going on to win 16-14 despite dropping a three on the last end.

This lone rink win earned North Wilts two points out of a possible 16 and saw them slip down to seventh in the central region table.

North Wilts v Christie Miller

Home – Rink 1: Dave Edmonds, Ian Bristow, Alan Small & Richard Gainey lost to the Moores - Geoff, Jordan, Steve and Andy Moore 31-19.

Rink 2: Rodney Bourne, Martin Clarke, Roger Button & Keith Hutchens lost to David Hayward, Mike Over, Chris Moore & John Crowder 31-7.

Away – Rink 3: Peter Blackman, Trevor Cooke, Miles Pickering & Darren Anteney beat Dale Hayward, Bob Pratt, Colin Little & Nigel Price 16-14.

Rink 4: Rich Ellis, Andy Bradfield, Maurice Byron & Dave Williams lost to Richard Buckland, Richard Walton, Steve Hockings & Dave Laws 29-16.

Score: North Wilts lost to Christie Miller 58-105 and by 14pts to 2.

NORTH Wilts ladies finished second again in the Top Nine county competition. Last season they were edged out by Westlecot in the inaugural staging while last weekend it was Christie Miller who pipped them for top spot by just one point.

Fizz Mace, who was county ladies president last season, introduced the competition to cover a blank in the county ladies fixture list following a county friendly cancellation.

All the rules were the same as before except that all the affiliated clubs to the Wiltshire County Womens Indoor Bowling Association took part - Christie Miller, Five Rivers, North Wilts and Westlecot.

Each club fielded nine ladies playing three games of six ends. Each team consisted of a pair, a triple and a rink (four) scoring two points per game won and one point for a drawn match. No points were awarded this time around for each end won in each game.

Like last year the scoring was very close. Christie Miller topped the charts with 14 points helped greatly by their pairs team of Georgina Newman and Marguerita Alexander winning all three games.

North Wilts scored 13 points with their fours team of Irene Wood, Jan Tombs, Barbara Porter and Sue Pitman winning all three of their games.

NORTH Wilts ladies are in the last 32 of the Yetton Trophy this Saturday against MidGlos (Brockworth), with the winners due to face Rivermead (Reading) or Desborough (Maidenhead). North Wilts still have two sides in the Mason Trophy, O60s ladies double rinks competition.

The A side are due to face Clevedon on December 8 (tomorrow) while the B side tussle tomorrow with old rivals Thornbury.