NORTH Wilts' hopes of adding to their success in the Yetton Trophy nine years ago were halted in the last stages of this year’s national competition at Bristol City and County IBC on Sunday morning.

The Chippenham-based club were beaten in the semi-finals by 24 shots by Spalding (Lincs), who fielded five international players.

North Wilts shared the rink honours 2-2 but suffered two heavy defeats that their winning teams were unable to compensate for.

The foursome skipped by Fizz Mace went down by 20 shots while Sue Cooke’s quartet lost by 12 shots in their encounters.

On the plus side Jean Collier’s rink were 7-5 down at halfway (nine ends) but then powered through to lead 18-12 at 15 ends and finally won by eight shots 20-12.

While Alex Jacobs’ rink came from 7-3 down at five ends and 14-8 at 12 ends to cut the deficit to only 14-13 at 15.

They then went in front for the first time 16-14 at 17 ends and finally won by a single shot 16-15.

Across the board North Wilts made a slow start and trailed 21-9 after five ends. They had rallied a little to cut the gap to 40-31 at ten ends and to 46-42 after 13 but fell away in the last few ends to trail 60-49 at 15 and finish as 78-54 losers to Spalding.

The Lincolnshire side were then involved in a cracker of a final sharing the rink honours 2-2 but just lost out to St Neots (Cambs) 68-62.

The Cambridgeshire had beaten Arun (Bognor Regis, Sussex ) 67-55 in the other semi-final played at Bristol.

RESULTS

North Wilts v Spalding: Yetton Trophy semi-final at Bristol City and County IBC, Sunday April 23.

Rink 1: Molly Manning, Barbara Shepheard, Viv Baskerville & Jean Collier beat Freda Lyon, Maisie Belding, Betty Deaton & Sylvia Wade 20-13.

Rink 2: Carol Massey Karen Funnell, Irene Button & Sue Cooke lost to Judy Jackson, Janet Staples Rebecca Simpson & Annalisa Dunham 9-21 (15 ends only).

Rink 3: Ann Roberts-Phare, Jane Taylor, Janet Hardie & Alex Jacobs beat Danielle West, Val Bowker, Barbara Hurst & Gloria Haney (c) 16-15.

Rink 4: Margaret Cooke, Jan Toombs, Wendy Ivory & Fizz Mace lost to Ruby Hill, Gill Needham, Louise Catchpole & Chelsea Tomlin 9-29.

Score: North Wilts lost to Spalding 54-78.

THE North Wilts club will be holding their annual outdoor Open Day on the weekend of Saturday May 6 (11am - 4pm).

There are plenty of bowls and shoes available at the club so if you have ever thought that you would like to try the game of bowls then come along and have a go. Club members will be there to help and also show people around the premises.

Parking is not a problem, there is a good sized car park at the club.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available during the day.

Further information on the club, and its facilities can be viewed on its website www.nwbowlsclub.co.uk.

The club's address is Litherland Close, Chippenham SN14 0LZ Phone: 01249 445966.

WILTSHIRE Indoor Bowls Association will hold their 42nd AGM at North Wilts Bowls Club on Friday April 28 (7.30pm).

The association have managed to obtain nominees for next year’s roles of president and senior-vice president - Ashley Ponting and Peter Sanders (both North Wilts) - but are looking for a name for the position of junior- vice president.

Any apologies should be sent to the secretary David Williams (07775 904757) or davewendy72@gmail.com.