ROYAL Wootton Bassett reached the final of this year’s Wiltshire men’s Four-Rink League play-offs after a big victory over Highworth in the semi-finals.

Three-time winners of the top men’s county team competition in the past five years, Bassett beat Highworth 95-59 to book their place in the trophy match on Sunday at Devizes.

North section runners-up Bassett produced a dominating performance to easily brush aside Highworth, who had been surprise winners over South section table-toppers Holt in the previous round despite only finishing fourth in the North area themselves.

In the final, Bassett will face either holders Chippenham Town or Westlecot, who meet at Devizes this morning in their delayed semi-final.

Bassett led throughout their semi, taking an early 28-11 lead after five ends and moving 52-20 up after 10. This advantage was extended to 68-43 at 15 ends and 81-57 at 18 before they eventually ran out convincing 95-59 winners.

Bassett took the accolades on all four rinks, with top honours going to the foursome of Kevin Embling, Matt Daniell, Dave Snell and skip Mel Biggs, who had a 31-13 success over Richard Young’s team.

Next best were James Nobbs, Andy Crump, Chris Cheesley and skip Neil Collett, who beat Stuart Murray’s rink 25-16.

Dave Godwin’s rink were 19-12 up after 18 ends when victory was declared.

However, one Bassett rink struggled, although Barry Sictorness, Graham Richards, Terry Walton and skip Gary Morphet eventually triumphed over Rob Etherington’s foursome 20-18.

  • BOWLS Wiltshire county domestic finals weekend will be held at Devizes on Saturday and Sunday.

A total of 10 domestic titles will be up for grabs as well as the top county ladies and men’s team events and the ladies’ county national pairs title.

Stratton Churchway duo Jackie Pearce and Janet Willis face Box players Debbie Shadwell and Kathryn Yeoman in the delayed ladies’ pairs final.

It was carried over to domestic finals day as Shadwell was involved in two other national finals – triples and fours – on county finals day at Bradford-on-Avon at the end of July.

Local players contesting domestic finals are Royal Wootton Bassett’s Patricia Murray, who faces Janice Bull (Amesbury) in the ladies’ champion of champions final, while in the men’s equivalent, Paul Pope (Swindon North End) plays Mike Tyler (Amesbury) in the final.

And in the county ladies’ benevolent triples, Sue Gravel (Supermarine) faces Janice Rowe (Amesbury) in the semi-finals, while Linda Perfitt (Westlecot) leads her triple of Eileen Williamson and Carole Coombs against Jean Collier (Box) in the other semi.

  • SWINDON & District 2019 men’s and ladies’ finals will be played next weekend.

The men’s finals are scheduled for Saturday at Shrivenham with the ladies finals being held the next day at Westlecot.

Local clubs Highworth, Town Gardens, Westlecot, Royal Wootton Bassett feature prominently in the men’s finals, while Purton and Haydon Wick have sole representatives.

At the time of going to press, the ladies’ programme was still awaited.