WILTSHIRE failed miserably in their attempt to finish second behind Devon in the Middleton Cup group table, writes DAVE EATON.

They slumped to a surprise 23-shot defeat against Gloucestershire at Barnwood as they went down 130-107.

And they only picked-up five of the 22 points on offer to finish third 19 points behind second placed Gloucestershire and 41 adrift of group winners Devon who claim a place in the quarter-finals.

The result was even more depressing as last season Wiltshire had won the corresponding group fixture on Chippenham Town’s green by the massive margin of 53 shots in a 148-95 success.

However, this time around Wiltshire trailed throughout.

They were 31-25 and 58-48 down at five and 10 ends respectively across the board with the gap widening to 95-74 at 15 ends and no way back as Gloucestershire kept a tight grip on proceedings.

Wiltshire only took the honours on two of the six rinks and drew on another.

But the heavy losses incurred by Dave Snell and Graham Shadwell’s rinks proved decisive in the final totals.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Kyle Anderson (Westlecot), Dave Godwin (Chippenham Town), Ian Jefferies and Mike Jackson (both W’cot) drew with Rob Griffiths 18-18.

Rink 2: Barry Sictorness, Chris Cheesley, Steve Snell and Michael Snell (all Wootton Bassett) beat Dave Howes 16-15.

Rink 3: Kevin Carter (Highworth), Paul Macdonald (Chipp T), Gary Morphet and Neil Smith (both WB) lost to Lee Williamson 20-23.

Rink 4: Paul Kistle (W’cot), Luke Meehan (S Moulton), Jamie Titcombe and Mel Biggs (both W’cot) beat Mark Woodbridge 23-16.

Rink 5: Wayne Simmonds, Wayne Snook (both Holt), Russell Francis and Graham Shadwell (both Spencer Moulton) lost to Graham Phillips 17-27.

Rink 6: Michael Richards, Ian Williams (both WB), Ben Gadd (Holt) and Dave Snell (WB) lost to Keith Hinder 13-31.

COUNTY men’s president Roger Green (Spencer Moulton) has added to his impressive list of successes this season.

His representative teams beat Middlesex 123-91 but lost to City and County of Bristol 95-131 last week in friendly matches.

While in the South West Counties League Wiltshire thumped Cornwall 137-97 to collect 18 points out of a possible 22.

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