WILTSHIRE'S top four team of Barry Sictorness (Wootton Bassett), Neil Hope (Westlecot), Graham Shadwell (Cooper-Avon) and Mark Dyer (Westlecot) put up brave resistance to the formidable Cornwall four at the regional finals at Clevedon, but were defeated 22-12.

Cornwall were skipped by Mark Foster, who was in outstanding form. On numerous occasions Wiltshire built advantageous positions, only for Foster to convert the situation to Cornwall's favour.

Wiltshire were holding firm at only 10-13 down and looked likely to seize the advantage, but a succession of inspired shots from Foster and his team halted their progress and Cornwall progressed to the next stage of the competition.

Cornwall are proving a stumbling block to Wiltshire this year, having already beaten them in the Middleton Cup, thereby ending their dreams of a quarter final place.

The rivalry continues, as the two counties will meet again on two more occasions, in the South Western Counties League on July 14 and in the U30s Top Team competition at Tiverton on August 3.