WILTSHIRE selectors have made changes to the side for the crucial Middleton Cup inter-county championship quarter-final clash with Oxfordshire next weekend.

Despite good wins in the qualifying stages against Warwick, Worcester and Hereford they have opted to alter the side which they feel will strengthen it even further for the match at Suffolk Square, Cheltenham, next Saturday.

Three changes have been made, two involve the return of the players who were unavailable for the home game at Wootton Bassett against Herefordshire.

Graham Hatherall returns as two in Steve Warren's rink, while Mike Jackson comes back to play as two in Mark Dyer's rink.

The other switch is positional, with Tony Stevenson moving from Steve Warren's rink to play at two in Dave Snell's rink.

The two players to miss out from the side that thrashed Herefordshire are Des Rideout (Westlecot) and Nigel Price (Cooper-Avon).

County secretary and press officer Alan Woodland said: "The selectors have stressed the fact that at Middleton Cup level the game is very much a squad game.

"Therefore, all members of the squad have a valuable contribution to make to Wiltshire's success.

"The changes made are built on the premise that there is a constant striving for improvement with the shared goal of lifting the Middleton Cup at Worthing in August."

Team

Rink 1: Barry Sictorness (Wootton Bassett), Mike Jackson, Mel Biggs and Mark Dyer (all Westlecot).

Rink 2: Mike Tyler (Amesbury), Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton), Keith Hutchens (Westinghouse) and Graham Shadwell (SM).

Rink 3: Kevin Embling, Tony Stevenson (West), Mick Crook (Ames) and Dave Snell (WB).

Rink 4: John Thomas (West), John Williamson (WB), Gary Morphet (Rod Cheney) and Ian Jefferies (West).

Rink 5: Michael Snell (WB), Chris Cheesley (Purton), Neil Hope (West), and Neil Smith (WB).

Rink 6: Barney Fernandes (Swindon), Graham Hatherall (West), Steve Snell (WB) and Steve Warren (Westlecot).

Travelling Reserves: Nigel Price (Cooper-Avon) and Des Rideout (Westlecot).

THE selectors have also announced the Wiltshire team to play in the semi-finals of the National Under 25 Two Fours competition at Worthing in August.

There is one change from the team that won the regional finals at Bath, with Jamie Titcombe coming in for Jason White, who is unavailable.

Team

Rink 1: Michael Richards (West End), Jamie Titcombe (Westlecot), Michael Snell (WB), and Neil Hope (West).

Rink 2: Arran Tucker (Spencer Moulton), Luke Meehan (Corsham), Ian Williams (Purton) and Russell Francis (SM).

Travelling Reserves: Andrew Harper (Corsham) and Adam Marshall (WB).

SWINDON & District Men's Bowling Association continue their series of friendly matches when they travel to the south coast tomorrow to face Bournemouth and District.

In recent weeks the association have struggled to field all male teams and have suffered successive defeats at the hands of the Kennet League and South Warwickshire.

Swindon & District president Mike Large will be hoping for a change in fortunes when he leads the representative side onto the green at Richmond Park (Winton, Bournemouth).

Team

Rink 1: Norman Nicholls (Wanborough), AN Other, Tony Bluett (Haydon Wick) and Ken Downton (Shrivenham).

Rink 2: Fred Edwards (Highworth), Roger Dyson (H Wick), Tony Cope (Cricklade) and Dave Woodbridge (Swindon).

Rink 3: Ken Hedges (Marlborough), Rob Williams (Supermarine), Paul Cooper (Shrivenham) and Fred Rogers (Wootton Bassett).

Rink 4: John Emmerson (Highworth), Mike Wells (Crick), Chris Payne (Garrards) and Mike Large (Cricklade).

Rink 5: Fred Peart (Shrivenham), Paul Stokes, Brian Stallard and Dave Warren (all Highworth).

Rink 6: Bob Mertha, Vince Garrett, Dave Fowler and John Durham (all Faringdon).