WILTSHIRE MEN gained ample revenge for a 20-shot loss in 2013 as they ran out victors in this year’s annual showdown against the women at Trowbridge Westbourne.

Led by the host club’s Bowls Wiltshire Men’s president Dave Richards, the men produced a late surge to take the spoils in a ten-shot success (123-113).

They only took the honours on two of the six rinks and drew another but the 13-shot winning margin recorded by George Henderson’s quartet was sufficient to tip the balance in their favour.

The match was close throughout with the overall score changing hands several times.

Ladies made a quick start and led 30-20 across the board after five ends but the men had pulled back the deficit to lead 56-51 at ten and still held the advantage at 15 as they were comfortably ahead 88-75.

Back came the women to wipe out the 13 shot deficit and move 102-98 up at 18 ends and in sight of victory. However, the men were not finished and produced a powerful surge over ends 19-21 to score 25 shots and only conceded 11 to win the annual showdown against the women by ten shots.

The main contributors in the late surge for victory were Dave Richards presidential rink skipped by Graham Annetts who scored 13 shots over the last four ends without reply and Calne’s George Henderson whose foursome bagged big counts of five each time on the 19th and 21st ends.

RESULTS

Wilts men v Wilts ladies Rink 1: Don French (Trowbridge Town), Del Smith (Wootton Bassett), Gerald Webb (Devizes) & Alan Small (WB) lost to Wendy Gaisford, Mary Jones (both Dev), Sue Gravell (Town Gardens) & Maureen Woolley (Alderbury) 15-17. Rink 2: Roy Hawker (Spencer Melksham), Barry Folland (Salisbury), Roy Jones (Trow T) & John Smith (Malmesbury) drew with Eileen Hawker (S Melk), Yvonne Savin (Chippenham Town), Marian Menzies (Amesbury) & Georgina Coomber (Avon) 20-20.mRink 3: Richard Hoskings (Winsley), Brian Raymond (Chip T), Brian Merritt (S’bury) & Keith Evill (Ramsbury & Aldbourne) beat Glenda Hibberd (Wilton), Eileen Tape (Avon), Jean Collier (Box) & Delia Godwin (S Melk) 22-20. Rink 4: Ross Wheeler (Swindon), Richard Gardiner (Supermarine), Dave Richards (pres, Trow West) & Graham Annetts (S’bury) lost to Joyce Little (Dev), Mary Buckle (Ames), Babs Salter (Wroughton) & Margaret Annetts (S’bury) 22-24. Rink 5: Ray Fernandes (S’don), Martin Salter (Wro), Roger Button (Chip T) & George Henderson (Calne) beat Ann Hindley (Wilton), Pat Sharp (Ames), Pat Jones (S’marine) & Marcia Cottle (S Melk) 27-14. Rink 6: Pete Sanders (S Melk), John Snell (Alder), Arthur Cook (R&A) & Bob Fredericks (S’bury) lost to June Coyle (N Wilts), Joyce Lewis (Wro), Janice Bull (Ames) & Sue Ochyra (Dev) 17-18.

Score: Wiltshire Men beat Wiltshire Ladies 123-113.

WILTSHIRE Ladies were also beaten a few days earlier in their annual match against Pen-y-Glyn played at Crickhowell Bowls Club.

Led by president of the day Jean Collier the county ladies lost by 11 shots as they went down 110-99.

A 26-10 win for Marcia Cottle’s rink was eradicated by big losses for the rinks skipped by Pat Jones (17 shots) and Jean Collier (12 shots).

Wiltshire ladies only took the honours on the rinks skipped by Cottle and Delia Godwin (six shots).

RESULTS

Wilts ladies v Pen-y-Glyn Rink 1: Delia Godwin beat M Gwynne 21-15. Rink 2: Maureen Woolley lost to A Weaver 12-14. Rink 3: Fizz Mace lost to M Davies 16-18. Rink 4: Pat Jones lost to H Mogford 11-28. Rink 5: Jean Collier lost to M Jones 13-25. Rink 6: Marcia Cottle beat P Cross 26-10.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Pen-y-Glyn 99-110.