THE superb run in the Wessex League being enjoyed by North Wilts men this season continued as they recorded their fourth win in five matches on Sunday morning, writes DAVE EATON.

They beat Thornbury 76-47 taking 14 of the 16 points on offer and only losing on one of the four rinks.

This win moved North Wilts up into second place, an automatic qualification spot for the play-offs, in the central region table, seven points behind leaders Clarrie Dunbar and five points clear of Bristol.

North Wilts and Bristol clash this weekend in both teams' final group match. It is odds-on whoever wins the game will book a spot in the end of season play-offs with the loser hoping to receive one of four wildcards into the last 16 play-offs.

The Chippenham-based club are enjoying their best Wessex campaign for several years and led Thornbury across the board throughout albeit in an extremely tight first-half.

North Wilts led 18-16 at five ends and 32-28 at halfway (nine ends) but then put their foot on the accelerator to roar away to victory.

They move into a 60-42 lead after 15 ends and finally won 76-47 at 18.

The away rink skipped by Dave Williams and home rink skipped by Keith Hutchens tied for top rink honours both winning by 14 shots while Richard Gainey’s quartet weighed-in with an eight shots success.

The only losers were Maurice Bryon’s home rink who made a very slow start but recovered and only lost eventually by seven shots.

But this deficit was easily wiped out by the other three foursomes to keep North Wilts hopes of reaching the play-offs on track.

RESULTS

North Wilts v Thornbury, Home - Rink 1: Gordon Scott, B Freeman, Roger Button & Keith Hutchens beat Colin Luton 21-7. Rink 2: Martin Clark, P Blackman, Trevor Cooke & Maurice Byron lost to S Hunt 13-20.

Away - Rink 3: R Ellis, Miles Pickering, Andy Bradfield & Dave Williams beat T Mangan 24-10. Rink 4: Gerry Tinson, Alan Greenland, Alan Small & Richard Gainey beat Jamie Wood 18-10.

Score: North Wilts beat Thornbury 76-47 and by 14pts to 2pts.

ALEX Jacobs bids to add to her array of national bowls championship titles as she competes in the last stages (last 16) of the women’s champion of champions indoor bowls championships at Warner Lakeside, Hayling Island, Hampshire this weekend.

She will be representing North Wilts as their indoor singles champion and reached this stage in the champion of champions competition by winning Area 16 after victories over Val Webb (Cotswold, Stroud) 21-7, Sue Latham (Thornbury) 21-5, Stefanie Branfield (Clevedon) and Pauline Dando (Purnell, Paulton) 21-11.

Jacobs now faces in the last 16, the Area 8 (Norfolk) champion, former ladies world matchplay winner Rebecca Field (Norwich, Norfolk) tomorrow evening at 8pm.

If successful, Jacobs would then move forward to a quarter-final tie against Lorraine Kuhler (Adur, Southwick, west Sussex) or Tina Broderick (Wellingborough, Northants) on Saturday afternoon at 4pm.

The semi-finals and final are scheduled for Sunday at 10am and 1.30pm.

NORTH Wilts hopes of winning a national team title this season now rest firmly on the shoulders of the ladies Yetton Trophy side who have reached the last four in mid-April at City and County of Bristol and will face Spalding in the semi-finals on Sunday April 23 (10am).

If successful, North Wilts, former Yetton Trophy winners in 2008, would face Arun (Bognor Regis, Sussex) or St Neots (Cambs) in the afternoon final 3pm.

North Wilts also had high hopes in the ladies Vivienne Trophy - four rinks of triples playing two games at home and two away - as they had reached the last 16 in the competition.

But that optimism turned to disaster last Thursday afternoon as North Wilts ladies crashed out of the Vivienne Trophy beaten heavily 70-29 by Honiton (Devon) who moved forward to the quarter-finals and a last eight tie with Palmerston (Fareham, Hants).