FIVE clubs, headed by Royal Wootton Bassett, will supply the 12 contestants at the Wiltshire men’s national championship finals being staged at Devizes this Sunday, July 31 (10am).

Bassett lead the way with five of the finalists while Spencer Moulton (Bradford-on-Avon), Swindon Westlecot and Amesbury all supply two each with Purton completing the dozen in the county pairs final.

The only team looking to retain their title are the foursome from Bassett of Kyle Anderson, Tom Walkley, Dave Godwin and skip Stephen Snell, but Walkley is replacing Dave Snell from last year, who face Purton in the rinks final, the first match of the day.

Anderson also competes in the afternoon junior (U25) singles final. A former winner in 2010 and losing U25 finalist last season to Westlecot’s Craig Hatherall, Anderson will be looking to go one better this time around when he meets Tom Warner (Amesbury).

Another losing finalist last season, Godwin, in the men’s singles to Wiltshire legend Mel Biggs, will be hoping to erase the memory of that loss and collect his first senior men’s singles crown.

However, standing in his way is fellow Royal Wootton Bassett team mate Neil Smith, a county men’s singles winner in 1997 and runner-up in his other final appearance in 2003.

Completing the Bassett quintet of 2016 men’s finalists are the veteran duo of Dave Snell and Mel Biggs in the county pairs final.

They face England international Graham Shadwell and England trialist Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton).

Snell and Biggs are back playing together outdoors in the county pairs after a break of over 20 years following, five-time nationals winner Biggs switching back to Bassett from Westlecot during the winter.

They previously won the men’s county pairs together in 1985 and 1989 while they have lifted the national senior (O55s) pairs title twice in the past three years.

Spencer Moulton’s trio of Francis, Shadwell and Andy Colebroke, winners of the national triples title at Leamington in 2014 are through to the county triples final again.

However, they will be looking to go one better this time as in 2014 despite winning the national triples title they lost in the Wiltshire men’s triples final to Holt trio Wayne Simmonds, Wayne Snook and Ben Gadd.

At Devizes on Sunday, Shadwell and co face a triple from Westlecot skipped by Ray Sowden who in the quarter-finals knocked-out holders Holt 16-13.

PROGRAMME

Men’s County finals on Sunday, July 31 at Devizes, 10am, Fours: Kyle Anderson, Tom Walkley, Dave Godwin & Stephen Snell (holders, Royal Wootton Bassett) v Dave Hall, Eric Collier, Colin Baker & Dave Jones (Purton).

Triples: Keith Williamson, Kevin Carter & Ray Sowden (Westlecot) v Andy Colebrooke, Russell Francis & Graham Shadwell (Spencer Moulton).

1pm, Singles: Dave Godwin (RWB) v Neil Smith (RWB).

Junior (U25) singles: Tom Warner (Amesbury) v K Anderson (RWB).

2.30pm, Pairs: Dave Snell & Mel Biggs (RWB) v R Francis & G Shadwell (S Moulton).

2.30pm approx Two Wood singles: Gary Jackson (Westlecot) v T Warner (Ames).

ROYAL Wootton Bassett will be represented at the Bowls England national championship finals next month at Royal Leamington Spa in two of the mixed national competition events - family pairs and mixed fours.

Gary Morphet, who plays out of Bassett and his 22-year-old son Craig, who plays for Westlecot have reached the last eight in the family pairs while Lucy, Katy, their dad Neil Smith and Mel Biggs (all Bassett) are through to the last 32 in the mixed fours championship.

Morphets have won six games in the Berkshire/Dorset/Hampshire/ Isle of Wight and Wiltshire section to reach the quarter-finals at Leamington.

They began in the family pairs with a preliminary round 25-11 win over David and Michael Richards (Westlecot) and then in the next round needed an extra end to beat Katy and Neil Smith 16-15, which was followed by a second round 29-17 success over England international Andy Knapper and his father Gordon (Tilehurst, Reading).

Then came a 25-11 win over Gareth and Andy Colebrok (Wokingham) and a 23-8 area semi-finals win against Graham and Craig Hatherall (Westlecot), national quarter-finallists in 2012 in the first year of the family pairs and beaten finalists the following year.

To cap a briiliant run Craig and Gary Morphet beat Jim Marshland (Cove, Hants) and his son Aaron 16-11 in the area final this week to book their place in the family pairs last eight at Leamington.

Mixed fours national competition has proved to be highly successful for Wiltshire quartets in the past 15 years with two championship winning combinations, two losing finalists and three losing semi-finalists.

In this year’s mixed fours competitions the Smith’s Lucy, Katy and dad Neil have enjoyed considerable success in the past seven months.

Playing with Ian Jefferies and representing Westlecot they reached the national indoor mixed fours final at Lincoln and only lost 21-20 on a re-spotted last end to holders Blackpool Newton Hall.

Now the Smith’s together with Bassett colleague Mel Biggs have won the Dorset and Wilts section in the outdoor mixed fours and reached the last 16 at Royal Leamington Spa next month.

To qualify for Leamington in round one of the mixed fours they edged past Bassett team mate Dave Godwin’s four 18-17 but in the next round thumped Keith Williamson’s Westlecot team 32-7.

In round three they eliminated Colin Easton’s team from Avon 20-16 and on Monday evening Lucy, Katy, Neil Smith and Mel Biggs (skip) won the Dorset and Wilts final at Southborne (Bournemouth) beating a team from Wellworthy (Weymouth) skipped by Ryan Stone 18-6.

Smiths and co. made a good start and led 7-2 at five ends, 11-5 at ten, 17-5 at 15 with the match finishing after 17 ends with Bassett 18-6 up.

“It is the first time we have all played (Smith family) with Mel,” said a jubilant Neil Smith.

“We are really pleased to qualify and follow up after the fine run in the indoor mixed fours competition earlier in the year.”

WILTSHIRE men, under the stewardship of president Peter Sanders (Spencer Melksham), enjoyed a comfortable victory over Warwickshire in their friendly match played at Highworth.

They won by 26 shots as they ran out 130-104 victors, taking the honours on four of the six rinks.

Sanders had the distinction of winning the presidents battle with the visitors counterpart Clive Faulkner on rink four and recording Wiltshire’s biggest winning margin against Warwickshire of 19 shots.

RESULTS (skips only)

Rink 1: Alfie Maslen beat Malcolm Welch 23-15. Rink 2: John Southern beat Bruce Truman 23-19. Rink 3: Dave Williams beat Keith Hornsby 23-13. Rink 4: Peter Sanders beat Clive Faulkner (lead), Ian Kendal (skip) 29-10. Rink 5: Roy Major lost to Bernard Kendrick 17-20. Rink 6: Mel Williams lost to Richard Woodard 15-27.

Score: Wiltshire beat Warwickshire 130-104.