WILTS have reached the Middleton Cup semi-finals for only the third time in their history.

They booked their place in the last four of the inter-county championship at Worthing at the end of August with a superb 27-shot victory over Oxfordshire at a rain-soaked Cheltenham on Saturday.

Wiltshire were forced into a late change to the side with Wootton Bassett's Steve Snell pulling out with a knee injury and being replaced by Nigel Price (Cooper-Avon).

However, the Moonrakers turned in a tremendous performance to overcome a confident and talented Oxfordshire side 123-96.

Despite the appalling conditions rain that got heavier throughout the game the match was of the highest quality with some excellent individual performances, as well as a magnificent team effort.

They took the honours on three rinks, drew on one and narrowly lost on the other two.

The rink, skipped by England international Graham Shadwell, led Wiltshire's challenge. They were always in control and stormed away to a superb 35-14 win.

Fellow England international Steve Warren's quartet recovered from 5-4 down at five ends to lead 13-8 at 10.

They were pegged back to 16-15 at 18 but won the last three ends for a five-shot success.

Ian Jefferies' rink were 6-0 down after four ends but had clawed back to 8-9 at 10 and led 14-10 at 15, before going on to win by six shots.

Dave Snell's quartet were drawing 3-3 at five ends but had raced into a 13-3 advantage at 10.

Their opponents fought back to cut the lead to 17-13 at 18 ends and with a single on the last grabbed a draw.

Neil Smith's rink dropped a four on the first end but recovered to lead 8-4 at five but were 9-8 down at 10. They trailed 17-11 at 18 but a late rally saw them only lose by two shots.

The final match between Mark Dyer and England international Greg Moon was a close affair. They were tied at 3-3 after five ends but Dyer's quartet trailed 8-6 at 10 and 11-9 at 15.

Moon moved 14-10 up at 18 but Dyer hung on to finally only lose by three shots.

Wiltshire were 22-15 adrift at four ends but a 10-shot swing on the next saw them go 26-23 up across the board at five and increase that lead to 58-43 at 10.

At 15 they led 81-68 but only 97-86 at 18, before a fine burst of scoring over the crucial last three ends saw them run out as 123-96 victors.

"It was a great team effort and I am delighted for the lads,'' said a jubilant but very wet deputy team manager George Henderson.

"I was confident we could beat Oxfordshire and not too worried when they made a lively start. I knew we would come back at them and we did.

"They got back to within eight shots towards the end but we then pulled away again for a splendid win. That was heartening as in the past few years we have suffered under pressure, like at Camelford last season.

"Despite the very difficult conditions the standard of bowling was very high.''

And he added: "Now we can look forward to going to Worthing and hopefully going all the way and winning the Middleton Cup.''

Wiltshire move forward to the semi-final at Worthing on August 30, where their opponents will be the holders and arch rivals Devon, who overcame Buckinghamshire by 13 shots in their quarter final at Wootton Bassett.

The Moonrakers first reached the final stages of the Middleton Cup in 1986, when they won the title for the only time when defeating Leicestershire.

They also qualified for Worthing in 1998 but lost out in the semi-finals to Warwickshire.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Barry Sictorness (Wootton Bassett), Mike Jackson, Mel Biggs and Mark Dyer (all Westlecot) lost to Greg Moon 13-16.

Rink 2: Michael Snell (WB), Chris Cheesley (Purton), Neil Hope (West) and Neil Smith (WB) lost to Mark Charlett 17-19.

Rink 3: Barney Fernandes (Swindon), Tony Stevenson, Graham Hatherall and Steve Warren (all Westlecot) beat Calvin Carpenter 20-15.

Rink 4: Mike Tyler (Amesbury), Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton), Keith Hutchens (Westinghouse) and Graham Shadwell (SM) beat Alan Ley 35-14.

Rink 5: Kevin Embling (West), Nigel Price (Cooper-Avon), Mick Crook (Amesbury) and Dave Snell (WB) drew with Alan Prew 18-18.

Rink 6: John Thomas (West), John Williamson (WB), Gary Morphet (Rodbourne Cheney) and Ian Jefferies (West) beat Baden Sparkes 20-14.

Wiltshire beat Oxfordshire 123-96.

Other quarter-final results: Norfolk 120 Cumbria 101; Lincolnshire 117 Huntingdonshire 110; Devon 123 Buckinghamshire 110 (played at Wootton Bassett).