WILTSHIRE men’s hopes of glory in the inter-county championship for the Liberty Trophy are over after losing to Devon in the last eight.

Devon controlled the game from the outset to run out nine-shot winners at Wiltshire’s home base of Westlecot in Swindon.

Across the board, the Moonrakers, trailed narrowly 25-24 after five ends but had fallen 68-47 adrift at 10 and 91-71 down after 15. They trailed 111-86 at 18 before finally losing 123-94.

Fielding 11 past or present England internationals compared to Wiltshire’s three, Devon made a positive start to seize the initiative immediately and never let it slip.

The foursome of Five Rivers, Salisbury’s Chris and Phil Lawrence, plus North Wilts’ Steve Snook and Andy Moore (skip), were always playing catch-up and finally lost 28-13.

The Phil Gregory rink suffered badly and lost their game 27-14.

Tom Newman (North Wilts) was a late replacement and his rink, skipped by Tom Warner, went down 21-16.

While county men’s secretary Dave Williams (North Wilts) was a member of player/manager Neil Smith’s rink that lost 17-11

The only local to taste any success was Darren Anteney (North Wilts) on Kyle Anderson’s quartet, who won 17-15.

The other Wiltshire success came on the rink skipped by Ian Jefferies, replacing the unavailable Mike Titcombe. They were ahead throughout the match and took a 23-15 victory.

  • NATIONAL championships in both the ladies and men’s sections in Area 16 of the five main categories – singles, pairs, triples, fours and two bowl singles – are nearing completion.

In the men’s singles, Clarrie Dunbar duo Wayne Snook and Keith Bailey are through to the semi-finals.

North Wilts’ Andy Moore and partner have reached the semis of the area pairs and are drawn against Clarrie’s Bailey and partner.

Dunbar’s Snook and colleagues are through to the area triples semis and face Adam Knights from Bristol.

Another Clarrie and Bristol semi-final is scheduled in the area fours as Keith Bailey’s rink is due face Reece White’s foursome.

However, the two bowl singles is not that far forward and is only just approaching the quarter-finals stage.

In the ladies national events in Area 16, the singles will feature Teresa King (Clarrie D) against Sue Cooke (North Wilts) and Laura Holden (Clevedon) versus North Wilts’ Janet Hardie.

North Wilts are well represented in the area pairs semi-finals, with Irene Button and partner due to face Alex Jacobs and partner. Sheila Garlick and partner will meet Clevedon in the other semi.

Stefanie Branfield, from Clevedon, and her team is also into the triples semis where she faces Debbie Shadwell’s trio from Clarrie.

And in the fours semi-finals, local teams are well represented, with Clarrie duo Jeanette Wheeler and Teresa King playing North Wilts’ Alex Jacobs and Maryann Pye (MidGlos) respectively.

  • NATIONAL team competitions are back on the agenda this Friday, following the festive break.

In the Mason Trophy – ladies over 60s double rinks – North Wilts B face Nailsea A, while Clarrie Dunbar play Thornbury.

  • AFTER the festive break, North Wilts and Clarrie Dunbar restart their Campaigns in the central region of the Wessex League this weekend.

Reigning Central champions Clarrie return to action on Sunday against Nailsea, while North Wilts face basement club Purnell (Paulton).