NORTH Wilts men ended their 2014/15 Wessex League central region campaign with a disappointing 27-shot (86-59) defeat at the hands of Nailsea.

The Chippenham club’s inconsistent form this season was exposed once more as, following an excellent win in their previous central group match against second-placed Bristol, they slumped to their third-placed opponents, with the main damage being suffered early in the second-half between ends 11-15.

Wilts led 21-13 across the board after five ends and 40-32 at ten but the wheels fell off and they trailed 59-47 after 15 ends and 68-54 at 18.

They only took the honours against Nailsea on the rink, skipped at home at Westcroft by Dave Williams whose foursome edged to victory by two to collect two points and prevent a whitewash.

Wilts failed to catch Thornbury finishing in sixth spot in the central region table, as well as missing out again on a wildcard into the end of season play-offs for the overall Wessex title.

Clarrie Dunbar top the central region table again this year and as central group champions together with runners-up Bristol claim the two automatic places allocated to their region in the play-offs.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 2: Alan Stell, Gerry Tinson, Maurice Byron & Dave Williams beat Debroy Gregory 19-17. Rink 3: Richard Jennings, Alan Greenland, Richard Gainey & Roger Button lost to John Couch 14-21.

Away - Rink 1: B Freeman, Pete Sanders, Clive Swift & Trevor Cooke lost to B Holloway 11-18. Rink 2: M Clark, Dave Edmonds, Bob Hayes & Alan Small lost to M Rowsell 15-30.

Score: North Wilts lost to Nailsea 59 (2pts) – 86 (14pts).

OTHER SCORES: Christie Miller 92 (15pts) Purnell 60 (1pt); Nailsea 86 (14) North Wilts 59 (2); Thornbury 53 (0) Bristol 94 (16).

TWO more combinations from North Wilts will be aiming to reach the main ladies national championship events at Melton & District in early April this week.

Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs have qualified for the last 16 in the pairs and, together with Janet Hardie, are through to the last 16 in the triples.

The trio, joined by Molly Manning, will be bidding to reach the national fours last eight.

The area 30 winners and inter-area sections 29/30 champions face the Devon quartet of Cassidy Lenton, Liz Lock, Ruth Rogers and Barbara Bellamy (Torquay Utd), the section 31/32 champions in the regional final on Wednesday (March 4) at Taunton Deane.

On Sunday, Cooke and Jacobs are involved in another regional final with Jean Collier.

The area 30 and inter-area champions meet Beryl Willis, Gillian Callaghan and Maureen Robertson (Mid-Devon IBC, Tiverton) in the regional final of the ladies Over 50s two wood triples with the winners advancing to the last eight in Nottingham from March 23-24.