THE county men's national singles championship has reached the last four stage and will be played this Sunday at Devizes.

Over the past seven days the last 16 stages were held at Westlecot and Holt and the quarter-finals at Royal Wootton Bassett, producing a couple of tight finishes and a few shocks.

Bassett’s Craig Hatherall edged home 21-20 against Adam Bolwell (Spencer Moulton) in the last 16 with a three on the last end while Avon’s Tom Newman was pushed hard by James Nobbs (RWB) before winning 21-18.

The big surprise was the 21-11 defeat for Bassett’s Middleton Cup manager Neil Smith at the hands of Bassett club mate Craig Morphet.

Morphet could not reproduce the same form in the quarter-finals on his home green, losing 21-12 to Bassett colleague Dave Godwin, the only former singles champion in 2016 left standing.

Newman was involved in another tight scrap. He led 20-14 at 19 ends but at 23 ends was tied 20-20 before grabbing a single for a last gasp 21-20 success over Graham Hatherall (RWB).

In the other two quarter-finals there were comfortable victories for Craig Hatherall (RWB) 21-13 over Russell Francis (S Moulton) and Wayne Snook (Holt) 21-14 against Chippenham Town’s Jeremy Haseltine.

The men’s junior singles (U25) will also be held at Devizes and has thrown up a couple of interesting ties. Westlecot’s Mike Titcombe, runner-up in 2016 in the main singles event faces Bassett’s Craig Morphet who he beat in the U25 regional indoor final early this year on his way to the indoor national championships.

Newman and Craig Hatherall also meet in the U25 junior semi-finals.

Last year’s winners and national Over 55 Fours champions Bassett’s foursome of Barry Sictorness, Terry Walton, Chris Cheesley and skip Mel Biggs are back to defend their title. They face a four from Westlecot led by Ian Jefferies.

In the other semi-final Holt, led by Malcolm Barker, meet another Bassett quartet, led by Graham Richards.

The quarter and semi-final in the men’s two wood singles will also be held at Devizes on Sunday morning and feature three Bassett players, Neil Smith, Craig Morphet and Craig Hatherall plus two players from Westlecot, Mark Richman and John Thomas as well as Holt’s Wayne Snook and Salisbury’s Tom Warner and Wilton’s Mike Crane.

RESULTS

Last 16 Matches 1-4 at Westlecot , 5-8 at Holt on Friday July 13: 1 Craig Hatherall (RWB) 21 Adam Bolwell (Spencer Moulton) 20; 2 Russell Francis (SM) 21 Tom Pittuck (Town Gardens) 16; 3 Craig Morphet (RWB) 21Neil Smith (RWB) 11; 4 Nick Revell (Salisbury) 8 Dave Godwin (RWB) 21; 5 Wayne Snook (Holt) 21 Mickey Tyler (Amesbury) 8; 6 John Williamson (RWB) 9 Jeremy Haselton (Chip T) 21; 7 Graham Hatherall (RWB) 21 Tom Walkley (RWB)14; 8 James Nobbs (RWB) 18 Tom Newman (Avon) 21.

Quarter-finals at Royal Wootton Bassett – Monday July 16: C Hatherall beat R Francis 21-13; C Morphet 12 D Godwin 21; W Snook 21 J Haselton 14; G Hatherall 20 T Newman 21.

DEVIZES DRAW

12 noon approx, singles semi-finals Sunday, July 22: Craig Hatherall (RWB) v Dave Godwin (RWB), Wayne Snook (Holt) v Tom Newman (Avon)

2pm approx, junior singles (U25) semi-finals: Mike Titcombe (Westlecot) v Craig Morphet (RWB)

Tom Newman (Avon) v Craig Hatherall (RWB)

9.30am Over 55 fours semi-finals: Mel Biggs (RWB) v Ian Jefferies (Westlecot), Graham Richards (RWB) v Malcolm Barker (Holt)