WILTSHIRE men produced a powerful performance at Royal Wootton Bassett last Sunday to blast Gloucestershire off the green in their first round Balcomb Trophy clash.

The county thumped their neighbours by 33 shots (58-25) in the men’s national county top two fours competition, following up their outstanding win in the preliminary round over last season’s losing finalists Devon a fortnight earlier.

An unchanged side led from start to finish with Ben Gadd’s foursome of Gary Jackson, Tom Warner, Wayne Snook and himself, who lost in the previous round to Devon, romping to a 31-9 victory leading 12-5 after 10 ends.

The other quartet of Paul Kistle, Graham Hatherall, Russ Francis and Neil Collett who also won against Devon to wipe off Gadd’s deficit were again in very impressive form. They led 9-4 at four ends, 18-8 at 10, moved 23-12 up at 15 and were leading 27-16 when a halt was called after only 19 of the 21ends had been played.

Moonrakers move forward to the west regional final at Bristol BC (Somerset) on Sunday, June 24 where they will face Worcestershire 42-19 winners over Somerset, Cornwall, who beat Warwickshire 43-41 and Dorset, who spanked Herefordshire 55-30.

Wiltshire will fancy their chances of lifting the west regional title and a place in the last four at the national championships at Leamington Spa in August.

RESULT

Balcomb Trophy v Gloucestershire at Royal Wootton Bassett, Rink 2: Paul Kistle (Westlect), Graham Hatherall (RWB), Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton) & Neil Collett (RWB) beat Nathan Kitchen 27-16.

Rink 4: Gary Jackson (West), Tom Warner (Salisbury), Wayne Snook & Ben Gadd (both Holt) beat Matt Cuthbert 31-9.

Score: Wiltshire beat Gloucestershire 58-25..

THE men's semi-finals in the county triples and fours championships will be staged at Devizes on Sunday.

The semis winners will automatically book a place at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa to represent Wiltshire in either the triples or fours event.

First up are the fours semi-finals at 10.30am which feature Bassett skipped by Steve Snell against Holt led by Ben Gadd, the defending champions and also county fours winners in 2014.

The second fours semi features Avon skipped by Colin Easton against another Bassett foursome skipped by Gary Morphet.

The men’s county triples will also be played at 10.30am and feature an all-Salisbury clash between Danny Russell’s trio and Jamie Reynolds triple.

The other triples match sees Chippenham Town skipped by Steve Heseltine play Wootton Bassett skipped by Neil Collett.

Men’s Fours semi-finals at Devizes June 17 (10.30am): Kyle Anderson, Tom Walkley, Dave Godwin & Steve Snell (RWB) v Wayne Simmonds, Justin Davis, Wayne Snook & Ben Gadd (Holt); Dave Alford, Joe and Tom Newman & Colin Easton (Avon) v James Nobbs, Anthony Sprules, Craig and Gary Morphet.

Men’s Triples semi-finals at Devizes June 17 (10.30am): Barry Folland, John Heenan and Danny Russell (Salisbury) v Ashley Plumb, Bob Armstrong and Jamie Reynolds (Salisbury); Craig, Graham Hatherall and Neil Collett (RWB) v Jeremy Haselton, Willie Jones and Steve Heseltine (Chippenham Town).