WILTSHIRE Men’s Bowls Association celebrate their 100th birthday his year and to mark the milestone they have organised a series of special matches.

The first of those games was held last Sunday at Swindon Bowls Club and featured Wiltshire Tourists against West Glamorgan Bowls Association.

It was a return match as the Tourists spent a long weekend last September based in Neath, West Glamorgan and played against three clubs in that area of Wales.

The Moonrakers Tourists side led by 2014 county president Dave Richards (Trowbridge Westbourne) had to give second best at Swindon BC to their Welsh opponents losing on all six rinks as they went down 123-85.

They made a poor start and never recovered being 29-19 and 60-36 adrift across the board at five and ten ends respectively and eventually lost by 38 shots.

It was Richards second defeat of the season in presidential games and will be hoping it is third time lucky in the next against the Barbarians BA at Wootton Bassett on May 29.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Steve Rose (Rod Cheney), Bob Hiles (Swindon), Roger Green (Spencer Moulton) & Tudor Lloyd (S’don) lost to Paul Brooks 20-26. Rink 2: Malcolm Ellis (Marlborough), Frank Hinchliffe (Westlecot), Ian Francis (S Moulton) & Carl Fernandes (S’don) lost to Ken Williams 12-23. Rink 3: Tom Phillips (Supermarine), John Snell (Alderbury), Ray Fernandes (S’don) & Dave Richards (pres,Trow West) lost to David Evans 14-19. Rink 4: Frank Smith (Cricklade), Eric Spackman (S’don), Mel Williams (Highworth) & Andy Watson (S’don) lost to Granville Pugh 12-17. Rink 5: Ken Bray (Avon), Jack Peterson (S’marine), Harry Langley (S’don) & Dan Harvey (RC) lost to Robert Edwards 13-21. Rink 6: Vic Hilton (Wootton Bassett), Colin Sheppard (Amesbury), Cliff Gumm (Winsley) & Dave Royle (Rod Cheney) lost to Meurig Evans 14-17.

Score: Wiltshire Tourists lost to West Glamorgan BA 85-123.

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