WILTSHIRE’S Middleton Cup selectors have made two changes to the men’s side that beat Worcestershire for their vital group match against Warwickshire on Saturday at Rugby.

Wootton Bassett’s England U25 trialist Kyle Anderson, who has been sitting his final University exams recently, comes into the side at lead in place of Bassett teammate Barry Sictorness in the rink skipped by Mel Biggs.

The other change is also at lead with Paul Kistle (Westlecot) coming into Mike Jackson’s foursome, Michael Richards moving down from lead to two and Holt’s Kevin Oliver switching to the substitutes bench.

Wiltshire must win the away game against Warwickshire by at least 14pts to 8 or more to guarantee top spot in their west group and book a spot in this year’s quarter-finals.

Currently in the group table, all four counties have played two games - Wiltshire lead on 32 points, Worcestershire are second on 23, Gloucestershire have 22 and last are Warwickshire on 11.

TEAM

Rink 1: Kyle Anderson (Wootton Bassett), Justin Davis (Holt), Graham Hatherall & Mel Biggs (both Westlecot). Rink 2: Kevin Embling (West), Keith Bailey (Holt), Gary Morphet & Neil Smith (both WB). Rink 3: Tom Warner, Nick Revell (both Amesbury), Wayne Snook & Ben Gadd (both Holt). Rink 4: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Chris Cheesley, Dave Godwin (both WB) & Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton). Rink 5: Paul Kistle, Mike Richards, Ian Jefferies & Mike Jackson (all West). Rink 6: Gary Jackson (West), Craig Doughty (Holt), Steve Snell (WB) & Graham Shadwell (S Moulton).

Reserves: Barry Sictorness, James Nobbs (both WB), Billy McCay, Paul Macdonald (both Chippenham Town), Kevin Oliver, Kevin Rowden (both Holt) and Craig Hatherall (West).

THE LAST 16 in the county men’s national singles championship played on Monday at both Wootton Bassett and Devizes produced a couple of shocks.

At Devizes, Bassett’s James Nobbs was edged out 21-20 by unknown Wilton player Steve Lynn while former Somerset county player, Trowbridge’s Andy Colebrooke, was well beaten going down 21-8 to Town Gardens’ Tom Pittuck.

David Johns (Calne), despite leading 15-13 at 18 ends, was edged 21-18 by Wayne Simmonds (Holt), while county Middleton Cup regular Neil Smith (Wootton Bassett) was always in charge against Chippenham Town’s Paul Macdonald winning 21-10.

At Wootton Bassett, local player Chris Cheesley put up a gallant effort against Graham Shadwell but lost out 21-16 in a match that lasted a mammoth 27 ends.

In sharp contrast, reigning national O55 pairs champion Mel Biggs whitewashed Mike Crane (Wilton) 21-0 in only ten ends.

LAST 16 RESULTS

At Wootton Bassett: Wayne Snook (Holt) beat Nick Revell (Amesbury) 21-11; Gary Jackson (Westlecot) beat Bob Tanner (Downton) 21-9; Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) beat Chris Cheesley (Wootton Bassett) 21-16; Mel Biggs (Westlecot) beat Mike Crane (Wilton) 21-0.

At Devizes: Andy Colebrooke (S Moulton) lost to Tom Pittuck (Town Gardens) 8-21; James Nobbs (WB) lost to Steve Lynn (Wilton) 20-21; Neil Smith (WB) beat Paul Macdonald (Chip Town) 21-10; David Johns (Calne) lost to Wayne Simmonds (Holt) 18-21.

DRAW

Quarter-finals at Chippenham Town Monday, July 7 (6.30pm): W Snook v G Jackson; G Shadwell v M Biggs; T Pittuck v S Lynn; N Smith v W Simmonds.

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