DEVIZES Bowls Club celebrated St George’s Day on Sunday along with their opening match of the 2017 campaign to mark the club’s centenary, hosting the oldest bowls club in the world, Southampton (Old) Bowling Green.

The Hampshire side are reputed to have staged their first bowls match over 700 years ago in 1299.

Devizes played them in a seven-rink match using both of their greens at Long Street, winning on two of the rinks, drawing another and losing on the other four to lose overall 118-134.

The successful rinks were those skipped by Robin Drake, who recovered from 5-1 and 8-4 down after five and ten ends to pull away at the end and win 21-12.

Also victorious was the Dave Reeves foursome who were 10-7 down at halfway but led 15-10 at 15 ends but only edged home at 21 ends 20-17.

Dave Greenwood, secretary and men’s captain, saw his rink lead for most of their game.

They were 13-8 up after 18 ends but then dropped a two followed by a four and had to grab a single on the last end to snatch a 14-14 draw.

Devizes have two special functions planned for next month. They are their annual Try Bowls Day on Saturday May 6 and scheduled for Sunday, May 28 is a 1917 Theme Day.

RESULTS

Rink 3 (Top Green): Harry Garlick, Debbie Greenwood, Rosemary Bradbury (president) & Dave Reeves beat Martin Owen 20-17. Rink 4 (Top): Marie Greenwood, Liz Soellner, Phil Coombes & Keith Scrannage lost to Dave Welch 17-23. Rink 5 (Top): Rosemarie Merritt, Jane Ilott, Sheila Turner & Terry Miles lost to Graham Comer 21-25. Rink 6 (Top): Bryan Reeves, Nicky Sage, Ken Surman & Sheila Garlick (captain) lost to Ken Brown 12-23. Rink 1 (Bottom): Lynne Williams, Brian King, Tom Mullins & Marguerite Alexander lost to Dave Green 13-20. Rink 2 (Bottom): Ellen Stiles, William Ilott, Mike Mitcham & Robin Drake beat Barbara Sparing 21-12. Rink 3 (Bottom): Lynn Hicks, Geoff Woollan, Sue Reeves & Dave Greenwood drew with Graham Long 14-14.

Score: Devizes lost to Southampton (Old) Bowling Green 118-134.

WILTSHIRE U25s men’s team came out on top in a friendly against Somerset winning narrowly 73-70 at Chew Stoke (Bristol) last Sunday.

That was despite only taking the honours on one rink and losing on the other three.

The rink of Nathan Richards (Westlecot), Bradley Frankham (Spencer Moulton), Alex Wickham (Chippenham Town) and skip Chris Poole (Holt) were Wiltshire’s heroes leading all the way to record a 29-11 win and cancel out the Gary Jackson deficit (three shots), Craig Morphet's loss (two shots) and James Richman defeat (ten shots).

Wiltshire trailed for most of the match being 18-16 adrift overall after five ends, 39-31 down at halfway, 57-49 down at 15 and 63-60 at 18. However a late flourish from the Jackson and Morphet rinks saw them go 68-67 up after 20 ends and finally win 73-70. Morphet’s rink scoring six shots on the last three ends.

This Sunday, Wiltshire U25s travel to Cheltenham to contest the Four Counties Bank Holiday Monday Tournament, a competition they won in 2014 at the first time of asking at Keynsham (Somerset) and retained the title the following season at home at Westlecot and were runners-up last season at Broadway (Worcestershire).

Team manager Adam Tanner has named a strong team blending youth with experience for the tournament.

TEAM

Four Counties U25 Tournament at Cheltenham, May 1 (2pm) - Gloucestershire v Somerset v Wiltshire v Worcestershire.

Rink 1: Tom Newman (Avon), Chris Poole (Holt), Craig Hatherall (Westlecot) & Kyle Anderson (Royal Wootton Bassett). Rink 2: Jordan Moody (Salisbury), Jamie Shadwell (Spencer Moulton), Gary Jackson & Mike Titcombe (both Westlecot). Rink 3: James Richman, Ben Choules (both Highworth), Adam Bolwell (S Moulton) & Craig Morphet (RWB).

RESULT U25 Friendly v Somerset at Chew Stoke (Bristol).

Rink 2: Ashley Peach (Alderbury), Isaac Jacob (Trowbridge Westbourne), Ben Choules (Highworth) & Gary Jackson (Westlecot) lost to Chris Spurry 16-19. Rink 3: Tom Newman (Avon), John Hermon (Garrards), James Vincent (Alderbury) & Craig Morphet (Royal Wootton Bassett) lost to Levi Hembrow 16-18. Rink 4: Josh Farrer (Spencer Moulton), David Murray (High), Liam Williams (Box) & James Richman (West) lost to Reece Williams 12-22. Rink 5: Nathan Richards (West), Bradley Frankham (S Moulton), Alex Wickham (Chippenham Town) & Chris Poole (Holt) beat Reece White 29-11.

Score: Wiltshire U25 beat Somerset U25 73-70.