WILTSHIRE Men's Bowls Association celebrate their 90th anniversary this year.

To mark the special feat the Moonrakers, led by president Tony Watchman, will play the English Bowling Association at Watchman's home club, Westinghouse, Chippenham, on Wednesday, May 19.

Last year Wiltshire went all the way to Worthing in the Middleton Cup, the national inter-county championship, before losing out to eventual winners Devon in the semi-finals.

In 2004 they will play in the same South Midlands group again, seeking to top the table and progress to the quarter-finals on July 24. The semi-finals and finals will be staged at Worthing on Saturday, August 28.

Prior to the Middleton Cup group matches Wiltshire will play three cup trials. They will be against Somerset and Oxfordshire on May 8 and 9 respectively at Wootton Bassett, and they travel to Atherley to face Hampshire on May 16.

The home group matches against Worcestershire and Warwickshire are scheduled for Wootton Bassett on June 5 and July 3, while Wilts will travel to Ross on Wye to play Herefordshire on June 19.

Wiltshire BA will play Swindon and District at Bassett on May 2, travel to Calne for their 90th anniversary on June 6, and to Spencer Melksham for their 80th anniversay on July 18.

Other notable dates: Mixed galas Sunday August 22; county championship semi-finals and under 25 final Sunday July 25 (Westlecot); county championship finals (nat.singles, pairs, triples and fours) Saturday July 31 (Highworth); Wilts county competitions finals Sunday September 12 (Bassett).

WESSEX LEAGUE action has had to take a back seat at Westlecot owing to postponements and the club's involvement in two national competitions.

However, after a two-month lull their last game was a 103-59 win over Fairford on November 30 the men are back on the green tomorrow (10am).

They will be seeking to move back up into a top three position in the East Region table when they face West Berks (Newbury).

And Westlecot will play their twice postponed game against Oxford City and County next Saturday, February 7.

Team v West Berks

Home

Rink 1: Peter Cottle, Mike Shawyer, Tony Stevenson and Mel Biggs; Rink 2: Dave Wheeldon, Shane Stevenson, Dave Vowles and Dave Snell.

Away

Rink 1: Bob George, Jeff Nichols, Dave Matthews and Neil Hope; Rink 2: John Thomas, Ian Thomas, Tony Rivers and Martin Hope.