LAST year's national champions in the inaugural senior fours (Over 55s) championship - the Royal Wootton Bassett foursome of Barry Sictorness, Terry Walton, Chris Cheesley and skip Mel Biggs - are out of this year’s competition.

They crashed at the last hurdle but one in their bid to defend their crown at Leamington, falling at the Wiltshire semi-final stage at Devizes last Sunday.

After wins over Chippenham Town, Supermarine and Spencer Moulton 24-13, the quartet lost 21-12 to a four from Biggs’ old outdoor club Westlecot - John Anderson, Paul Kistle, Brian Whittingham and skip Ian Jefferies - who recently celebrated his 100th appearance for Wiltshire in the Middleton Cup.

In the other semi-final, another Bassett quartet of Kevin Embling, Graham Richards, Alan Small and Dave Snell booked their place in the final with a 24-20 win over Holt, led by Malcolm Barker.

The quarter and semi-finals in the men’s two wood singles at Devizes saw Middleton Cup player-manager Neil Smith (RWB) bounce back from his surprise defeat in the four wood singles to fellow Bassett team mate Craig Morphet.

Smith beat Mark Richman (Westlecot) 18-7 and then Craig Hatherall 17-9 to book his place in the final against Salisbury’s Tom Warner.

Only one semi-final in the men’s singles was played at Devizes owing to fixture clashes, which saw Holt’s Wayne Snook beat Avon’s rising star Tom Newman 21-16.

The other semi-final between Bassett teammates Craig Hatherall and Dave Godwin, the only previous winner left in the competition, will be resolved at Devizes this weekend.

There was a surprise in the junior singles (U25) semi-final with Morphet turning the tables on Mike Titcombe for his area final defeat in the U25 indoor singles at the start of the year, triumphing this time 21-19.

The other junior singles semi-final saw Newman (Avon) beat Craig Hatherall (RWB) 21-13 and former winners Holt’s Wayne Simmonds and Wayne Snook beat Bassett duo Neil Smith and Mel Biggs in the pairs semi-final.

The county men's finals in the eight main categories - singles, junior (U25) singles, two wood singles, pairs, junior (U25) pairs, triples, fours and senior (O55) fours - will be played at Devizes on Saturday and Sunday at 9.30am.

A total of 11 matches in all are due to be contested, including the three outstanding semi-finals from last weekend.

All of the finalists, with the exception of the senior fours will represent Wiltshire at Royal Leamington Spa next month in the English men’s national championships. In the Over 55 fours, only the winner will have that honour.

Royal Wootton Bassett are the biggest represented club at Devizes this weekend with 12 players in the men’s county finals weekend with Holt second best with three.

RESULTS

At Devizes, Sunday, July 22

Singles semi-finals: Wayne Snook (Holt) beat Tom Newman (Avon) 21-16; Craig Hatherall (RWB) v Dave Godwin (RWB) to be played this weekend.

Junior Singles (U25) semi-finals: Mike Titcombe (Westlecot) lost to Craig Morphet (RWB) 19-21; Tom Newman (Avon) beat Craig Hatherall (RWB) 21-13

Over 55 Fours semi-finals: Barry Sictorness, Terry Walton, Chris Cheesley & Mel Biggs (holders, RWB) lost to John Anderson, Paul Kistle,Brian Whittingham & Ian Jefferies (Westlecot) 12-21; Kevin Embling, Graham Richards, Alan Small & Dave Snell (RWB) beat Malcolm Barker (Holt) 24-20.

Pairs semi-final: Wayne Simmonds & Wayne Snook (Holt) beat Neil Smith & Mel Biggs (RWB) 20-16; James Nobbs & Anthony Sprules (RWB) v Dave Godwin & Steve Snell (RWB) to be played at Devizes on Saturday at 9.30am.

Junior Pairs semi-final: Nathan Richards & James Richman (Westlecot) beat Jordan Moody & James Vincent (Salisbury) 16-15; Jamie Shadwell & Adam Bolwell (Spencer Moulton) v Phil Gregory & Craig Hatherall (RWB) to be played at Devizes on Saturday at 9.30am.

PROGRAMME

Saturday July 28, 9.30am - Four wood singles semi-final: Dave Godwin (RWB) v Craig Hatherall (RWB).

Over 55 fours final: John Anderson, Paul Kistle, Brian Whittingham & Ian Jefferies (Westlecot) v Kevin Embling, Graham Richards, Alan Small & Dave Snell (RWB).

11.30am approx, Pairs semi-final: Dave Godwin & Steve Snell (RWB) v James Nobbs & Anthony Sprules (RWB).

Pairs (U25) semi-final: Jamie Shadwell & Adam Bolwell (Spencer Moulton) v Phil Gregory & Craig Hatherall.

Sunday, July 29, 9.30am - Four wood singles final: Wayne Snook (Holt) v D Godwin (RWB) or C Hatherall (RWB).

Two wood singles final: Tom Warner (Salisbury) v Neil Smith (RWB).

Junior (U25) singles final: Tom Newman (Avon) v Craig Morphet (RWB).

Pairs (U25) final: Nathan Richards (sub Mike Titcombe) & James Richman (Westlecot) v P Gregory & C Hatherall (RWB) or J Shadwell & A Bolwell (S Moulton).

11.30am approx, Pairs final: Wayne Simmonds & Wayne Snook v winner of Saturday’s semi-final

2.30pm approx, Triples final (after pairs final): Ashley Plumb, Bob Armstrong & Jamie Reynolds (Salisbury) v Craig and Graham Hatherall & Neil Collett (RWB).

Fours final (after pairs final): Kyle Anderson, Tom Walkley, Dave Godwin & Steve Snell (RWB) v James Nobbs, Anthony Sprules, Craig & Gary Morphet (RWB).