WILTSHIRE bowls team need a miracle to progress to the quarter-finals of the Middleton Cup.

They entertain Warwickshire today at Wootton Bassett in their final inter-county group match seeking a maximum 22 points.

But that may still not be enough to qualify following a surprise five-shot home loss to Worcestershire a month ago.

Worcestershire head the table and a win in their final match against basement county Herefordshire will see them progress at Wiltshire's expense.

As there is still a mathematical possibility of Wiltshire qualifying, the selectors have decided to minimise the changes to the team that thrashed Herefordshire at Ross-on-Wye a fortnight ago.

In order to give an opportunity to some players who have not yet taken part in the campaign, certain team members have been rested today for the Warwickshire home game.

Steve Heseltine (Chippenham Town) and Nick Grenfell (Box) come in to replace Mick Crook and Tony Stevenson respectively, while Steve Snell is given an opportunity to prove himself as a Middleton Cup skip with his father Dave Snell reverting to Steve's former position as three to Steve Warren.

The selectors have every confidence that the nucleus of the side is good enough to beat any opposition and subsequently win the Middleton Cup.

"We believe it is only a matter of time. Our current team is as strong as any we have ever fielded", said Middleton Cup manager Hedley Bowen.

Team

Rink 1: Mel Biggs (Westlecot), Steve Hesletine (Chippenham T), Neil Hope and Mark Dyer (W'lecot); Rink 2: Barry Sictorness, John Williamson (Wootton Bassett), Gary Morphet (Rodbourne Cheney) and Ian Jefferies (W'lecot).

Rink 3: Malcolm Webb (Holt), Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton), Keith Hutchens (Westinghouse) and Graham Shadwell (S Moulton);

Rink 4: Graham Hatherall (W'lecot), Chris Cheesley (Purton), Mike Jackson and Neil Smith (W'lecot).

Rink 5: Kevin Embling (W'lecot), Nick Grenfell (Box), Andy Moore (Spencer Melksham) and Steve Snell (WB).

Rink 6: John Thomas (W'lecot), Ian Williams (Purton), Dave Snell (WB) and Steve Warren (W'lecot).

TOMORROW, Wiltshire will compete in the Regional Finals in the Top Fours competition at Clevedon.

The team of Neil Hope, Graham Shadwell, Mark Dyer and Steve Warren, who beat Devon in the last round, now face Warwickshire (10am).

If they are successful, they will meet the winners of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire in the afternoon.

The winners of the regional final will go through to the final stages to be held at Beach House Park, Worthing, on Sunday August 22.

WILTSHIRE will play an Under 25 six-rink friendly match against Oxfordshire at Carterton tomorrow.

The mixed team has been drawn from clubs all over the county.

THE Wiltshire Championships have reached the last 16 stage in the national singles, pairs, triples and fours.

These matches are all due to be played next week.

Draw

Singles

(To be played on Monday July 5)

Jeremy Haselton (Chip T) v Bob Tanner (Downton); Bob Fredericks (Salisbury) v Keith Hutchens (holder, Westinghouse); Michael Snell (WB) v Nigel Price (Cooper-Avon); Mark Dyer (Westlecot) v Neil Smith (W'lecot); Steve Snell (WB) v David Godwin (Trow T); Tino Riccio (Chip T); v Mick Crook (Amesbury);

Eric Williams (Melksham T) v Mike Savin (Chip T); Roy Hawker (Spencer Melksham) v Chris Blount (Highworth).

Pairs

(Skips names only,

to be played on Tuesday July 6)

Jeff Nichols (W'lecot) v Hedley Bowen (WB); Bill Gourlay (Wilton) v Peter Long (Ames); Maurice Wigman (S Melksham) v Keith Fletcher (Corsham); Graham Shadwell (S Moulton) v Roger Green (S Moulton); Steve Heseltine (Chip T) v Dave Hall (Purton); Dyer (W' lecot) v Vince Williams (C-A); Riccio (Chip T) v D Snell (WB); Jeremy Haselton (Chip T) v Alan Woodland (Swindon).

Triples

(Skips names only

to be played on Thurs July 8)

Williams (C-A) v Jonathan Cook (Devizes); Paul Redmonds (Box) v Morphet (Rod Cheney); Les Gingell (Purton) v Andy Moore (S Melksham); Ian Griffiths (West End) v Miles Roberts (Purton); Brian Pike (Salisbury) v Bill Gourlay (Wilton); Vince Kimber (Marl) v Steve Warren (W'lecot); Ray Ford (Marl) v Jim Ford (Blue Circle); Dave Jones (S'marine) v Keith Evill (Ramsbury & Aldbourne).

Fours

(Skips names only

to be played on Fri July 9)

Reg Wadsworth (Purton) v Terry Gregory (C-A); Shadwell (S Moulton) v Hutchens (Westinghouse); Les Sullivan (Town Gardens) v Snell (WB); Ford (Marl) v David Rowe (Ames); Webb (Holt) v Ray Sowden (Purton); Brian Raymond (Chip T) v Mike Tyler (Ames); Dyer (W'lecot) v John Webb (Alderbury); Morphet (R Cheney) v Bob Tompkins (Trow T).1