HOLT saw their hopes of reaching a sixth successive Wiltshire men’s Four Rink League play-off final dashed at Chippenham Town last Sunday, writes DAVE EATON.

Winners of the overall play-offs final in 2015 and 2012, but losing finalists last season in 2014 and 2013, Holt crashed to a shock 85-56 defeat at the hands of northern area runners-up Westlecot.

The foursome led by skip Craig Doughty gained the solitary success by a single shot 16-15.

The other semi-final between holders Royal Wootton Bassett, winners of the northern section, and Chippenham Town, southern section runners-up, will be played on Saturday on the bottom green at Devizes (10.30am) with the winners progressing to the final on the clubhouse top green at Devizes at 2pm the next day (Sunday) during the Bowls Wiltshire county domestic finals weekend.

RESULTS

Rink 2: Wayne Simmonds, Chris Moore, Wayne Snook & Ben Gadd lost to Paul Kistle, Paul Sloman, Ian Jefferies & Mike Jackson 12-25 (19 ends only). Rink 3: Rod Summers, Malcolm Barker, Tony Keating & Pete Hardie lost to John Wilson, Keith Williamson, Brian Whittingham & Mike Titcombe 14-18 (18 ends). Rink 4: Darren Anteney, Martin Oliver, Kevin Oliver & Craig Doughty beat John Thomas, Dave Matthews, Mike Shawyer & Jay Titcombe 16-15 (19 ends). Rink 5: Jordan Moore, Rob Jeffreys, Matt Tucker & Justin Davis lost to James Richman, Des Ridout, Kevin Carter & Mike Richards 14-27 (20 ends).

Score: Holt lost to Westlecot 56-85.

HOLT'S men will contest the Tourist Trophy final at Devizes on Sunday morning against Chippenham Town.

Two Holt trios Wayne Simmonds, Wayne Snook and Ben Gadd, previous winners, will face Rob Jeffreys, Pete Hardie and Justin Davis, in the delayed county men’s triples championship final on Saturday.

Russell Francis, who reached the final of the champion of champions event at Leamington in the national championships, will face surprise qualifier Brian Lobley (Haydon Wick) in the county men’s champion of champions competition seeking a consolation title.

Francis has also been chosen to take part in the final England senior men’s trial at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa, on Saturday September 23.

He will be hoping to clinch a place in the side to contest the 2018 International Series at Leamington on June 30-July 1.

Other players from West Wiltshire involved in the domestic finals are Dave Betteridge (Trowbridge Town) in the greenkeepers final against Westlecot’s Brian Whittingham, the Avon mixed team who meet Swindon Supermarine in the Bowls Wiltshire mixed double rinks final and Mere’s Don Butcher and Richard Coombs who play Joyce Pheby and Keith Baker in the Bowls Wiltshire secretary and treasurers final.

BOX Ladies have qualified again for the final stages of the National Top Club competition to be staged at Royal Leamington Spa over the weekend of September 16-17.

They clinched their place in the last eight when drawing 2-2 with Warwickshire side Welford-on-Avon in the third round of the inter-county play-offs last week.

Despite only sharing the spoils on the disciplines, by winning the pairs and fours but losing the singles and triples, they easily sailed through to the national quarter-finals with a far superior shot difference winning the game overall 80-61.

Box play Huntingdon representatives Parkway (Peterborough) in the last eight on Saturday September 16.

Royal Wootton Bassett men have also reached the quarter finals of the men’s Top Club. Beaten finalists last year losing 4-1 to King’s (Torquay, Devon) they booked a re-visit with a 5-0 whitewash of Priory BC, Milton Park, Portsmouth on the neutral green at Cove (Farnborough, Hants) last week in the final inter-county round.

Bassett will play Gerrards Cross (Bucks) in the quarter-finals of the national Top Club competition on Saturday, September 16 at Leamington with the semi-finals and final scheduled for the Sunday.

Box Ladies will bid to extend their remarkable winning run in the county Top Ten competition to eight victories in a row at the Bowls Wiltshire domestic finals this weekend at Devizes on Sunday when they play Royal Wootton Bassett ladies.

They have dominated this county competition since 2010 when defeating Westlecot. Since they have beaten in six successive finals Stratton Churchway (twice), Chippenham Town, Royal Wootton Bassett, North Wilts and Purton last year 3-1.

Sunday also sees Alex Jacobs (Box) defend her county champion of champions title again when she meets Wendy Anderson (Stratton C).

While three trios from the southern section of the county contest the semi-finals of the county ladies benevolent triples.

They are Josie Mulligan, Bev Lilley and Sheila Garlick (Devizes); Ann Greenland, Anne Roberts-Phare and Fizz Mace from North Wilts (Chippenham) plus Trowbridge Westbourne’s Jenny Oliver, Sheila French and Joan Tugwell.

Meanwhile on Saturday Ellen Stiles (Devizes) competes in the semi-finals of the ladies county unbadged singles.