WILTSHIRE’S men soared into the quarter finals of the Middleton Cup as they thrashed Somerset 133-98 in their final west group match in the inter-county championship.

The home side only needed victory one on of the six rinks against their nearest rivals at Wootton Bassett BC to wrap up the group honours, but instead won five of them to storm through to the knockout stages.

While the rink of Russell Francis was edged out 22-18 in a tight tussle, Neil Smith, Graham Shadwell, Mel Biggs, team boss Steve Snell and Ben Gadd also celebrated victories as Wiltshire collected 20 points to their opponents’ two.

The triumph qualified them for the quarter-finals for the fifth year in a row on July 18 against Devon at a venue to be arranged.

Team boss Snell said: “We got off to a fantastic start picking up 16 shots to nil on the first end and after five ends we still had a lead of 10 shots which increased to 23 shots by the 10th end.

“This was another excellent team performance and very pleasing to complete four group wins. We now face our toughest challenge yet against a star-studded Devon team who are in fine form.’’

Bowls Wiltshire men’s pairs last 16: R Francis (Spencer Moulton) 27-12 G Hatherall (Westlecot) 12, A Kierl (Spencer Moulton) 21-10 D Snell (Wootton Bassett), W Snook (Holt) 23-8 A Gough (Stratton Churchway), N Smith (Wootton Bassett) 18-16 T Riccio (Chippenham Town), J Cook (Devizes) 21-17 K Hutchens (Chippenham Park), S Rose (Rodbourne Cheyney) 15-30 M Crook (Amesbury), S Snell (Wootton Bassett) 33-6 R Moore (Alderbury), J Ellis (Amesbury) 17-28 B Gadd (Holt).

HOLDER Wayne Simmonds (Holt) was knocked out of the county men,s singles championship on Monday evening.

He lost his crown when beaten 21-13 in the quarter-finals on Monday evening by Wootton Bassett’s Dave Godwin.

The semi finals take place at Westlecot on Sunday.

WILTSHIRE Under 25s clinched victory in their South West Counties League match against Cornwall at Culm Vale BC, in Devon.

Wiltshire won on one of the three rinks - Nathan Richards and Mark Titcombe (Westlecot), James Vincent (Alderbury) and James Richman (Highworth) winning 36-5 - while the other two ended in 17-17 draws They take on Somerset in Bath on Saturday.

Wiltshire (v Somerset): Rink 1: Adam Bolwell (Winsley), Jake Webster (Westlecot), James Richman (Highworth), Nick Revell (Amesbury); Rink 2: Gary Jackson (Westlecot), Ben Choules (Highworth), David Murray (Rodbourne Cheney), Tom Warner (Amesbury).

Rink 3: Nathan Richards (Westlecot), James Vincent (Alderbury), David Leighfield (Alderbury), Mike Titcombe(Westlecot).

Development Rink: Ashley Peach (Alderbury), Sean Etherington (Highworth), John Hermon (Garrards), Tom Newman (Trowbridge Westbourne).

Wiltshire Ladies (v Somerset), July 12 (Winscombe BC): Alison Fail (Purton), Jean Collier (Box), Margaret Annetts (Salisbury), Wendy Anderson (Stratton Ch’way), Sue Cooke (Box), Sue Ochyra (Devizes), Alex Jacobs (Box), Linda Kingston (Highworth). Reserves to attend: C Grenfell, K Holmes.