WILTSHIRE bowlers missed out on adding another title to the family pairs crown that they won on day two of the 2016 national championships at Bowls England Headquarters at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa.

Royal Wootton Bassett players made a fine bid to add to the early success of club colleague Gary Morphet and his son Craig, on the last three days of the month-long championships.

The Smith’s - Neil and his two daughters Lucy and Katy together with Mel Biggs - were edged out on the last end in the mixed fours semi-finals despite leading throughout the match until the final end.

They went down 17-16 to the 2014 mixed fours champions England junior and senior internationals Rebecca Wigfield and Katie Smith, Darren Childs and Jamie Walker (Northamptonshire), the latter has just been chosen in the five man England team to compete in New Zealand in the 2016 world championships from November 29 to December 11.

In the last 16, the Bassett quartet recorded a comfortable 20-11 win over Broadway (Worcestershire) and followed it up with a 23-16 success over Lindfield (Sussex).

In the semi-final on Saturday morning the Smiths and Biggs made an electrifying start winning five of the first seven ends to take a healthy 10-3 lead but despite a Northants comeback still led 12-8 after 12 and 15-10 after 15 ends.

However, with two ends to go the Bassett foursomes only held a three shots advantage at 16-13.

But they could not hold on against their illustrious opponents who cut the gap to 16-15 with a two on the 20th end and another two on the last end to lead for the only time in the match and claim a hard fought 17-16 win.

“It was obviously disappointing to lose on the last end,” said a dejected Smith. "But we all played well in horrendous conditions.”

The Northants mixed four went on to win the title securing victory on the last end 19-18 against an Essex foursome.

Bassett’s David Godwin also made a bold bid for glory in the top men’s championship event, the ‘blue riband’ singles.

Goodwin sailed through his opening three singles games last Friday.

He easily overcame England junior international Jake Willgress (Norfolk BC, Norwich) 21-9 and followed it up in round two with a 21-10 success over Keith Holloway (Banbury Borough, Oxon) and booked his quarter-final place with a third round 21-16 victory over Cornishman Alan Hawke (St Austell).

In the last eight on Saturday morning Godwin battled bravely but was just edged out on the last end 21-20 by Simon Green (Sandwich, Kent). who had recorded another 21-20 success in the third round the previous evening against ex-England international Vinnie O’Neill (Middlesbrough).

Green, Godwin’s conqueror, went on to win the singles title beating Andy Walters (Worcestershire) in the final 21-13.

Bassett were easily Wiltshire’s most successful club at Royal Leamington Spa this season with two further quarter finalists.

Katy Smith reached the last eight in the ladies singles before going out to Donna Knight (Oxford City and County) the eventual winner while Katy and her elder sister Lucy reached the quarters in the U25 junior pairs championship.