BOWLS: Clubs suffer costly league defeats (From Wiltshire Times)

BOWLS: Clubs suffer costly league defeats

10:30am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Sport

NORTH WILTS and Christie Miller’s men’s teams both suffered big defeats in last weekends penultimate group matches in the Central Section of the Wessex League, writes DAVE EATON.

The heavy 87-66 loss to Bristol was North Wilts fifth defeat in six matches this season, while Christie Miller’s hopes of securing a play-off wildcard now hang by a thin thread after being hammered 99-61 by Weston St Andrews.

Both North Wilts and Christie Miller only managed one rink success each and consequently only picked up two points a piece out of a possible 16.

Nick Grenfell’s rink away in Bristol edged home by a single shot 18-17 to prevent a whitewash.

But Andy Moore’s lone victory at home for Christie was far more emphatic as his rink ran out 33-15 winners.

In their final central group match Christie Miller will need to thump basement club Purnell and collect as near to a 16 point maximum as possible.

But even then they would still have to rely on Clarrie Dunbar, favourites to win the section, to do them a big favour with a big win over Weston St Andrews to keep alive their hopes of wild card in the play-offs that commence on Sunday, March 11.

RESULTS

Home

Rink 1: Dave Edmonds, Dave Williams, Alan Stell and Malcolm Curtis lost to Paul Bryant 20-24.

Rink 2: G Scott, C Swift, J Hodkin and J Buckland lost to Stan Wiltshire 15-27 (Wayne Snook taken ill during this game and after five ends was replaced by a sub).

Away

Rink 1: R McCombe, A Ponting, K Holmes and R Button lost to Pete Birmingham 13-19.

Rink 2: Bob George, B Hayes, Steve Snook and Nick Grenfell beat Mark Smith 18-17.

Score: North Wilts lost to Bristol 66-87 and by 2pts to 14.

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