BOWLS: THE THIRD and final trial for the Middleton Cup was an in-house affair at Wootton Bassett last weekend.

It featured 48 of the top men players in Wiltshire divided into two teams Reds and Whites.

A few players were unavailable owing to the Bank Holiday period while Graham Shadwell and Mark Dyer were absent due to international trials.

The only other notable absentee was the vastly experienced former England international Mel Biggs (Westlecot) who has opted out of the inter-county championship scene this season.

A keenly fought trial game eventually saw Reds beat Whites by 30 shots and by five rinks to one with few shocks on the way.

RESULTS

(Reds names first)

Rink 1: Tom Walkley (Wootton Bassett), Chris Cheesley (Purton), Ben Gadd (Holt), Neil Smith (Westlecot) beat Dave Hall (Purton), Mike Shawyer (W'lecot), Jeremy Haselton, Mike Savin (Chippenham T) 27-16.

Rink 2: Kevin Embling (W'lecot), John Williamson (WB), Graham Hatherall (W'lecot), Dave Snell (WB) beat Wayne Snook (Box), Paul Sloman (W'lecot), Kevin Oliver (Holt), Nick Grenfell (Box) 26-14.

Rink 3: Barry Sictorness (WB), Rob Petrie, Gary Morphet (Rodbourne Cheney), Ian Jefferies (W'lecot) beat Bob Laws (Corsham), John Ellis (Amesbury), Charlie Burrows (Wilton), Terry Spreadbury (Amesbury) 18-16.

Rink 4: Michael Snell (Wootton Bassett), Steve Heseltine (Chippenham T), Andy Moore (Spencer Melksham), Steve Snell (WB) beat Paul Kistle, Jeff Nichols (W'lecot), Miles Roberts (Purton), Rob Clews (WB) 17-16.

Rink 5: Paul Macdonald (Spencer Moulton), Ian White (Blue Circle), Keith Hutchens (W'house), Russell Francis (S Moulton) lost to Jim Ford, Jim Roy (B Circle), Ian Francis (S Moulton), Maurice Wigman (S Melksham) 18-24.

Rink 6: David Godwin (Trow T), Tony Stevenson (W'lecot), Mick Crook (Amesbury), Mike Jackson (W'lecot) beat Shari Akhavan (Swindon), Daniel Hodges (Holt), Richard Gainey (Westinghouse), Tim Bailey (Malmesbury) 21-11.

  • FOLLOWING the three trial games the selectors have named the Wiltshire side for the opening Middleton Cup group game.

Winners of the group last year but beaten quarter-finalists at the hands of Cornwall, Wiltshire kick-off this year's bid for the inter-county group title against Gloucestershire at Wootton Bassett on Saturday June 10 (2pm).

The selectors not surprisingly have opted mostly for experience with only one new cap being awarded.

That goes to Tom Walkley, the young lead from the host club Wootton Bassett.

Sixteen of the players chosen for the first cup game are from local clubs with Westlecot supplying eight of the team, Wootton Bassett six, while the other two are from Purton and Rodbourne Cheney.

The side will be captain once again by Westlecot's Neil Smith.

TEAM

Rink 1: John Thomas (W'lecot), Chris Cheesley (Purton), Ben Gadd (Holt) and Neil Smith (W'lecot).

Rink 2: Barry Sictorness, John Williamson (Wootton Bassett), Gary Morphet (Rodbourne Cheney), Ian Jefferies (Westlecot).

Rink 3: Michael Snell (WB), Steve Heseltine (Chippenham T), Andy Moore (Spencer Melksham) and Steve Snell (WB).

Rink 4: Tom Walkley (WB), Keith Hutchens (Westinghouse), Russell Francis, Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton).

Rink 5: Kevin Embling (W'lecot), Mick Crook (Amesbury), Graham Hatherall (W'lecot), Dave Snell (WB).

Rink 6: David Godwin (Trowbridge T), Tony Stevenson, Mike Jackson, Mark Dyer (all W'lecot).

Reserves: Paul Kistle (W'lecot), Michael Richards (West End), Miles Roberts (Purton), Paul Macdonald (S Moulton).

  • A NEW event has been introduced this year by the English Bowling Association for county teams.

The National County Top Two Fours replaces the old top four competition that had been staged for many years.

Wiltshire have been drawn in Group Four to meet Cornwall on Sunday, June 4, in the first round at Crediton. If Wiltshire win they will qualify for the regional final three weeks later.

Team

Rink 1: David Godwin (Trowbridge T), Tony Stevenson, Mike Jackson and Mark Dyer (all W'lecot).

Rink 2: Barry Sictorness (WB), Mick Crook (Amesbury), Neil Smith (W'lecot) and Graham Shadwell (S Moulton).

Group FOUR

(First round draw)

Warwickshire or Dorset v Worcestershire; Devon v Herefordshire; Cornwall v Wiltshire; Gloucestershire v Somerset. The four winners progress to regional final at Clevedon on Sunday, June 25.