LOCAL teams in this area of the county endured a mixed set of results in the two remaining men’s quarter-final matches in the Four-Rink League play-offs that were played last Sunday.

Royal Wootton Bassett, who finished as runners-up in the North section, thrashed Salisbury 87-49.

But there was a very shock in the other match with South section winners Holt losing 79-69 to Highworth.

Bassett were always ahead against Salisbury, winning on all four rinks.

They led 20-7 at five ends, 39-19 at 10, 58-38 at 15 and finished strongly, leading 70-45 at 18 before finally winning 87-49.

Top rink honours went to the foursome of James Nobbs, Chris Cheesley, Graham Hatherall and Neil Collett, who won 29-15.

There were also wins for the rinks skipped by Steve Snell, Mel Biggs and Dave Godwin.

Bassett face Highworth in the semis this Sunday at Westlecot.

Holt saw their hopes of progress to the semi-finals halted by Highworth, who staged a tremendous fightback to turn the match on its head in the final quarter.

Holt trailed in the early exchanges and were 19-11 down after five ends and 36-27 after 10 but then upped the pace to hit back hard.

Holt wiped out the deficit and leapt in front 55-48 after 15 ends but then hit the buffers on the home stretch, only scoring another 14 shots and conceding 31.

Their advantage was cut to only 64-63 at 18 ends and Highworth piled on the agony with a seven on end 20 to grab a surprise 79-69 success.

Holt, who were missing three of their regular players, are left to look back and reflect at what should have been a routine win in the formbook.

The other semi-final, which sees Chippenham Town face Westlecot, will be played at Devizes on September 7 prior to the final the next day.

  • NATIONAL Championships being staged this month at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa, have seen Wiltshire double their haul of titles.

Following on from the success of Royal Wootton Bassett men in the Club Two Fours competition almost a fortnight ago, a duo from Westlecot have won the mixed pairs competition.

Ex-Bassett player Lucy Smith, who switched back to Westlecot this term, teamed up with Mike Titcombe to beat Herne Bay (Kent) duo Sara Trotter and Dave Mason 24-8 in the final.

Meanwhile, Spencer Moulton duo Russell Francis and Graham Shadwell are enjoying a good run in the men’s pairs championship.

They had won three matches, beating Workington (Cumbria) narrowly 17-16 in round one and Gray’s Town (Essex) 24-17 in round two.

Then followed a comfortable 28-11 success over Gus Whitwell and Karl Tyreman from Brotton (Yorks) in the last 16.

And at the time of going to press, Francis and Shadwell were due to face

Mike and Dan Holmes (Ledbury) Herefordshire in the quarter-finals.

The national championships end at Leamington this weekend, with Wiltshire bidding to retain their Amy Rose Bowl double rinks title.

Box are in the last eight of the Tony Allcock senior mixed double rinks and Bassett contest the mixed fours.