BOWLS WILTSHIRE mixed team were beaten at Highworth last Sunday in the traditional opening match of the season against the Swindon & District Bowling Assoociation.

Until a few years ago this annual first game of the season was always a men's match but was changed to a mixed game between the two bowling associations owing to selection problems.

The county side led by Bowls Wiltshire chairperson June Corbett (Wroughton/Town Gardens) trailed for most of the match before finally losing by seven shots as they went down to the Swindon and District representative team led by new men’s president Roy Major (Supermarine) 120-113.

Wiltshire mixed side lost on five of the six rinks with only the foursome of Lynne Stanford, Janice Bull (both Amesbury), Jim Cremin (Town Gardens) and Brian Whittingham (Wroughton) registering a victory, a handsome 16 shot success in a 29-13 win.

The county side trailed across the board 31-21 at five ends and 61-51 at ten but had edged in front 86-84 at 15. However, the joy was shortlived as at 18 ends they were 112-92 shots adrift and finally lost 120-113.

In the officers match on rink three, featuring Bowls Wiltshire chair June Corbett and S&D men’s president Roy Major, it was the latter who took the honours despite seeing his winning margin of 25-16 reduced to only 19-16 for fielding a triple instead of a four.

The ladies and men’s county friendly matches under the leadership of Pat Jones (Supermarine) and Pete Sanders (Spencer Melksham) begin in earnest next week while the next Bowls Wiltshire mixed match is scheduled for Sunday June 4 against Salisbury & District BA.

RESULTS Wiltshire names first v S&D Rink 1: Val Groves (Haydon Wick), Joe Stout, Linda Whittingham & Bob George (all Wroughton) lost to John Jordan, Bob Wilson, Gordon Pearce & John White (all Highworth) 18-20.

Rink 2: Roy Read, Jenny Wilson, Hugh Linning & James Richman (all H’worth) lost to John Rimmer, Trevor Durrant, Robin Haynes & Darren Strowger (all Faringdon) 19-22.

Rink 3: Joyce Lewis, Gavin Newman, June Corbett (all Wr’ton) & Dave Richards (Trowbridge Westbourne) lost to Peter Stewart (S&D sec, Westlecot), Roy Major (pres. Supermarine) & Mark Richman (match sec, H’worth) 16-25 (reduced to 16-19 as S&D only fielded a triple).

Rink 4: Mel Williams (H’worth), Jane Croston (Wr’ton), Sid Corbett (Town Gardens) & Babs Salter (Wr’ton) lost to Trevor Andrews, Ann Andrews, Marilyn Kilburn & Mick Kilburn (all Supermarine) 19-25.

Rink 5: Lynne Stanford, Janice Bull (both Amesbury), Jim Cremin (Town Gardens) & Brian Whittingham (Wr’ton) beat Mike Ballard (S’marine), Ken Garrat, Geoff Blackwell & Dave Williams (all Garrards) 29-13.

Rink 6: Bronwen Rees, Pat Bevan (both Wr’ton), Peter Sanders (men’s pres, Spencer Melk) & Martin Salter (Wr’ton) lost to Valerie Carter, Yvonne Randall, Clive Randall & Keith Carter (all Shrivenham) 12-21.

Score: Bowls Wiltshire lost to Swindon & District BA 113-120.