SHORT MAT BOWLS: KINGTON Langley's short mat bowls foursome put their village on the map last weekend when they competed in the sport's national finals near Milton Keynes.

Husbands and wives Dave and Anthea Williams and Mike and Sandi Wilson had defeated their counterparts from Dilton Marsh in the mixed fours at Lackham College, Chippenham, earlier this year to book their place at Bletchley.

England's best 32 teams were separated into eight groups of four and they played off in a round-robin format for a place in the last 16.

The Kington Langley team were pitted with teams from Oxford, Hereford and Gloucester.

The Wiltshire bowlers got off to a good start with a 10-3 win but suffered a set-back in their second game losing by the same score line.

The third and final match was vital and they triumphed 11-4.

Even then the mini-league was as tight as it could be after all four teams won two games and lost one.

But Kington Langley's superior shot difference saw them finish second in the table and move on to the last 16.

There they were drawn to play Norfolk but they found the gap in quality too much to bridge and succumbed 11-4.

Short mat bowls was first established in this country around 40 to 50 years ago.

The mat used in short mat bowls is about three times shorter than a regular mat and the players have to draw their shots a block in the middle.

Despite going out before the quarter-final team member Dave Williams, who moved to Chippenham from Wales ten years ago, said the team had been satisfied with their efforts.

"Just playing in the national finals at that venue was an excellent experience," he said.

"It was a long day and we were up early but we did well in the group stage and we happy to be in the last 16 of the competition.

"But Norfolk were excellent and on the day they were too good for us. We didn't stay to watch the final matches though because we'd been up since 6am and were exhausted."

This weekend is just as big for the foursome as they compete in the national short mat bowls fours finals in Kettering.

Anyone interested in getting involved with short mat bowling can contact Dave Gilbert on (01225) 355952.