THE Wiltshire Bowls Association semi-finals were played at Chippenham Town on Sunday.

With the prize of a place in the national championships at Worthing at stake, the matches were fiercely contested.

Keith Hutchens (Westinghouse) narrowly beat Paul Macdonald (Spencer Moulton) in the singles and was joined in the final by Neil Smith (Wootton Bassett), who defeated England international Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton).

Holt and Chippenham Town claimed the honours in the pairs, while Wootton Bassett and Westlecot won the triples.

Alderbury and Purton won the fours and in the under 25 singles, played a few days earlier, Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton) defeated Neil Hope (Westlecot).

RESULTS

Singles, Keith Hutchens (Westinghouse) 21, Paul Macdonald (Spencer Moulton) 20; Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) 16, Neil Smith (Wootton Bassett) 21; pairs, Martin Oliver, Malcolm Webb (Holt) 18, Craig Stephens, Tony Coward (Calne) 12; Mike Savin, John Lucas (Chippenham Town) 25, Mel Litherland, Nigel Price (Cooper-Avon) 17; triples, Richard Buckland, Hedley Bowen (sub. Darren Wilson), Bob Clews (Wootton Bassett) 20, Steve Haddock, Graham Loney, Vince Kimber (Marlborough) 13; Alan Greenland, Richard Gainey, Keith Hutchens (Westinghouse) 16, Mel Biggs, Neil Hope, Mark Dyer (Westlecot) 19; fours, Mike Savin, Tino Riccio, Willy Jones, Steve Heseltine (Chippenham Town) 15, Miles Roberts, Mark Wadsworth, Chris Cheesley, Ray Sowden (Purton) 18; Adrian Frayling, Bev Thompson, Mike Trimble, Roger Wickham (Malmesbury) 14, Jerry Woolley, Allan Wilson, Peter Frost and John Webb (Alderbury) 24; under 25 singles, Neil Hope (Westlecot) 17, Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton) 21.

The finals will be played at Westlecot on Saturday.

Singles: Keith Hutchens (Westinghouse) v Neil Smith (Wootton Bassett); pairs: Martin Oliver, Malcolm Webb (Holt) v Mike Savin, John Lucas (Chippenham Town); triples: Richard Buckland, Hedley Bowen, Bob Clews (Wootton Bassett) v Mel Biggs, Neil Hope, Mark Dyer (Westlecot); fours: Miles Roberts, Mark Wadsworth, Chris Cheesley, Ray Sowden (Purton) v Jerry Woolley, Allan Wilson, Peter Frost and John Webb (Alderbury).