DAVE Godwin and Russell Francis both produced superb fightbacks to win their quarter-finals in the Wiltshire men’s National Singles Championship on Monday at Wootton Bassett, writes DAVE EATON.

Chippenham Town’s Godwin was adrift for the whole match until the final end against Westlecot’s Mark Dyer.

He trailed Dyer 5-10, 12-13 and 16-20 but then snatched victory from the jaws of defeat collecting counts of 2, 1 and 2 for a narrow 21-20 success.

Spencer Moulton’s Francis is making a habit of giving his opponents early leads.

In the previous round against Gary Morphet he trailed 2-7 and 7-13 before moving ahead for the first time at 15-14.

His quarter-final clash with young U25 prospect Nick Revell (Alderbury) was virtually a carbon copy.

Francis was 7-0 and 10-5 down but cut the gap to 11-9 before going 15-14 up and finally winning 21-16.

In the other quarter-finals, Ben Gadd (Holt) enjoyed a comfortable 13-shot win, while the vastly experienced Mel Biggs (Westlecot) beat Michael Snell despite Snell having home advantage.

The semi-finals will be played at Westlecot on Sunday, July 18.

RESULTS

Ben Gadd (Holt) beat Barry Folland (Salisbury) 21-8; Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton) beat Nick Revell (Alderbury) 21-16; Mel Biggs (Westlecot) beat Michael Snell (Wootton Bassett) 21-13; Dave Godwin (Chippenham T) beat Mark Dyer (W’cot) 21-20.

Semi-finals: Gadd v Francis; Biggs v Godwin.

THE last 16 in the county men’s National Pairs Championship played last Friday at Malmesbury and Amesbury produced a couple of shock results at the latter venue.

The Holt duo of Graham Archard and D Stevens knocked out the holders Mike Jackson and Mel Biggs in a close game 21-19.

And two more Middleton Cup bowlers bit the dust as Marlborough’s James White and James Nobbs also won by a two-shot margin in a tight match with Wootton Bassett’s Barry Sictorness and Michael Snell.

Also at Amesbury, the Westlecot partnership of Jeff Nichols and Paul Sloman snatched a one-shot win with the last wood against Alderbury.

And the Chippenham pairing of Keith Fletcher and Chris Brown had five shots to spare over Amesbury.

At Malmesbury, skips Keith Bailey and Justin Davis (both Holt) and Ian Jefferies (Westlecot) enjoyed comfortable victories.

Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton) was away the previous week on international duty for England in the Home International Series and was unable to play his last 32 match against Mark and Tom Ashcroft (Cooper Avon).

Therefore together with partner Russell Francis they played that at home at Spencer Moulton and won convincingly 36-7.

They will now play Graham Hatherall and Mark Dyer (Westlecot) tonight (Thursday) in the last 16 at Devizes.

The quarter-finals are scheduled to be played tomorrow evening (Friday) at North Wilts Bowls Club (Chippenham).

RESULTS

LAST 16

At Malmesbury: Justin David & Ben Gadd (Holt) beat Nick Revell and David Leighfield (Alderbury) 23-18; John Thomas & Ian Jefferies (W’cot) beat Rob Clews & Norman Gould (Chipp T) 26-10; Rod Summers & Keith Bailey (Holt) beat Andy Crump and Alan Small (Wootton Bassett) 24-16.

At Amesbury: Peter Long & Ben Hatton (Amesbury) lost to Keith Fletcher & Chris Brown (Chipp T) 17-22; Jeff Nichols & Paul Sloman (W’cot) beat Graham House & John Webb (Alderbury) 17-16; D Stevens & Graham Archard (Holt) beat Mel Biggs & Mike Jackson (W’cot) 21-19; Jason White & James Nobbs (Marlborough) beat Barry Sictorness & Michael Snell (WB) 17-15.

Last 32: Graham Shadwell & Russell Francis (S Moulton) beat Mark & Tom Ashcroft (Avon) 36-7.

QUARTER-FINAL DRAW

Graham Shadwell & Russell Francis (S Moulton) or Graham Hatherall & Mark Dyer (W’cot) v Justin David & Ben Gadd (Holt); John Thomas & Ian Jefferies (W’cot) v Rod Summers & Keith Bailey (Holt); Keith Fletcher & Chris Brown (Chipp T) v Jeff Nichols & Paul Sloman (W’cot); D Stevens & Graham Archard (Holt) v Jason White & James Nobbs (Marlborough).

RUSSELL Francis (Spencer Moulton) beat Jamie Cook (Vospers BC, Hants) 21-17 in the quarter-finals of the Champion of Champions regional final at Atherley (Southampton) last Sunday.

But he lost 21-14 to Leo May (Aldershot Traction Athletic) in the semi-final.

MORE BOWLS NEWS & RESULTS IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD