BOWLS WILTSHIRE'S mixed representative side made a fine start to the 2018 season with victory over the Swindon & District team at Swindon Bowls Club (Shrivenham Road) on Sunday afternoon.

They trailed for over three quarters of the match but a late rally saw them grab a 128-11 victory.

The county side were 31-23 down across the board at five ends; 60-51 adrift at 10 and still trailing at 15 ends 84-78.

However, they fought back to tie the match 105-105 at 18 ends and on the last three ends of the six rinks contest scored a further 23 shots and only concede six shots to take a late 17 shots success.

Bowls Wiltshire took the honours on four of the six rinks and lost on two.

Top winning rink for Bowls Wiltshire was the foursome skipped by Gerald Webb (Devizes). They were boosted by a seven on end 16, the first time they led their match to finally win by 14 shots. Next best was the guest rink from Garrards who won their game by eight shots.

The two other wins were both of four shots. After being 8-1 down at five ends and 21-13 adrift after 16 the rink skipped by Spencer Melksham’s Peter Sanders won 26-22 while Wroughton’s Bob George came home a 19-15 winner.

The only two losing rinks were skipped by Trowbridge Westbourne’s Dave Richards (six shots) and Wroughton’s Martin Salter (seven shots).

Bowls Wiltshire’s next mixed friendly is planned for Sunday June 3 at Andover against Salisbury & District BA while Wiltshire men are in action in a friendly match against West Wilts BA at Avon on Saturday, May 19.

RESULT

Bowls Wilts v S&D (BW names first)

Rink 1: Chris Payne, Dave Williams, Trevor Hermon & John Hermon (guests, all Garrards) beat Marilyn Kilburn, Alan Penfold Mick Kilburn & Kevin Mitchell (all Supermarine) 24-16. Rink 2: Mary Butchers, (Mere), Nigel Curtis (Trowbridge Westbourne), Babs Salter (Wroughton) & Gerald Webb (Devizes) beat Kathleen Goddard, Sue Herridge, Colin Wilkinson & Steve Herridge (all Swindon) 30-16. Rink 3: June Corbett, Carol Woodward (both Wroughton), Jim Cremin (Town Gardens) & Bob George (Wroughton) beat Peter Stewart (men’s sec, Westlecot), Roy Major (past men’s pres, Supermarine), Mark Richman (Westlecot, men’s match sec), Maurice Simpson (men’s pres, Faringdon) 19-15. Rink 4: Karen Guy, Don Butchers (both Mere), Joan Coleman (Amesbury) & Peter Sanders (Spencer Melksham) beat Alan Hamer, Jeff Fletcher, Gloria Edwards & Terry Plumb (all Haydon Wick) 26-22. Rink 5: Val Groves (Haydon Wick), Lynn Stanford, Janice Rowe (both Amesbury) & Dave Richards (Trow West) lost to Emma Payne, Colin Peacock, Trevor Durrant & Robin Haines (all Faringdon) 16-22. Rink 6: Don French (Trow West), Gail Keating (Ramsbury & Ald), Janice Bull (Ames) & Martin Salter (Wroughton) lost to Chris Davis, Millie Woodbridge, Deanne Davis & Dave Woodbridge (all Wanborough) 13-20.

Score: Bowls Wiltshire beat S&D mixed 128-111.

THE county junior men continued their build-up to the White Rose Trophy (national U25 two fours) competition this weekend with a comprehensive 96-58 victory over Oxfordshire U25s at Swindon BC last Saturday.

They took the honours on all four rinks but two of the games were close finishes with Mike Titcombe’s rink winning by one shot and fellow Westlecot colleague James Richman leading his rink to a 20-18 win.

Despite dropping a five on the last end the Craig Hatherall quartet won their game by five shots 21-16.

Top accolades though went to Royal Wootton Bassett’s Craig Morphet foursome that included Adam Bolwell (Spencer Moulton), Hayden Daniell (RWB) and Tom Newman (Avon) who were in impressive form, powering to a 37-7 victory.

They also notched a hotshot on end nine with a maximum count of eight shots and finished like a train scoring 14 shots over the last six ends.

Wiltshire U25 men begin their quest for national glory when they entertain Somerset at home at Royal Wootton Bassett (10.30am) in the opening round of the White Rose, double rinks competition on Sunday.

RESULT

Rink 2: Isaac Jacobs (Trowbridge Westbourne), Ben Choules (Westlecot), Phil Gregory & Craig Hatherall (both Royal Wootton Bassett) beat Sam Watts 21-16. Rink 3: David Murray (Highworth), James Vincent, Jordan Moody (both Salisbury) & Mike Titcombe (W’lecot) beat D Swanson 18-17. Rink 4: Jamie Shadwell (Box), Jack Wilkins (Supermarine), Josh Fail (Purton) & James Richman (W’lecot) beat David Leighfield 20-18. Rink 6: Adam Bolwell (Spencer Moulton), Hayden Daniell (RWB), Tom Newman (Avon) & Craig Morphett (RWB) beat Chris Gilkes 37-7.

Score: Wiltshire U25s beat Oxfordshire U25s 96-58.

WILTSHIRE junior women begin a series of friendly matches this weekend in preparation for the Amy Rose Trophy competition at the national championships at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

They face Hampshire in a double rinks match at Andover BC on Sunday (1.30pm).

TEAM

Rink 1: Emily Jacobs (Trowbridge Westbourne), Alison Wells (Avon), Rachel Martin (RWB) & Joanna Hicks (Highworth). Rink 2: Louise Rose (Rodbourne Cheney), Kerry Hatherall (RWB), Georgina Newman (Avon) & Charlie Godwin (RWB).

THE ladies national fours championship early rounds began this week.

In the second round in the southern section of Wiltshire there were wins for foursomes led by Mary Jones (Devizes), Ros Corke (Wilton), Jean Collier (Box), Marilyn Jay (Spencer Melksham), Alex Jacobs (Box), Marcia Hartley (Avon) , Joan Coleman (Amesbury) and Sandra Bartlett (Winsley).

While in the northern section there were wins for the foursomes led by Chippenham Town’s Barbara Land and Irene Button as well as Royal Wootton Basett’s Charlie Godwin.

WILTSHIRE Ladies begin their South West Counties campaign for 2018 next Tuesday when they visit Tiverton West End to play Cornwall.