SWINDON & District Bowling Association’s representative side made a fine start to their 2016 campaign by winning the annual seasonal opener against Bowls Wiltshire at Highworth Bowls Club last Sunday.

They won the annual clash between the two bowling associations more convincingly than the seven-shot winning margin and 120-113 scoreline would suggest.

The side, under the leadership of the new S&D men’s president Roy Major, took the honours on five of the six rinks played at Highworth.

Top winning rink was the Shrivenham foursome of Val Carter, Yvonne and Clive Randall and skip Keith Carter, who won their match by nine shots in a 21-12 success.

There were also S&D victories for the all-Supermarine rink (six shots), all-Faringdon quartet (three shots) and all-Highworth foursome (two shots).

The biggest winning score was recorded by the S&D officials team of 2014/15 president and now men’s secretary Peter Stewart, match secretary Mark Richman and 2016 president Roy Major, who beat their opponents, including Bowls Wiltshire chairperson June Corbett (Wroughton/Town Gardens) 25-16.

Bowls Wiltshire mixed side’s lone success came on rink five where the foursome of Lynne Stanford, Janice Bull (both Amesbury), Jim Cremin (Town Gardens) and Brian Whittingham (Wroughton) registered a fine 16-shot success in a 29-13 victory over the Garrards’ rink.

Swindon & District men’s BA next two representative games are both mixed matches against Bournemouth & District on May 29 (2.30pm) at Amesbury and a 90th anniversary game against Swindon West End on Sunday, June 12 (2.30pm) at their green at Westcott Place.

RESULTS S&D names first v Wiltshire Rink 1: John Jordan, Bob Wilson, Gordon Pearce & John White (all Highworth) beat Val Groves (Haydon Wick), Joe Stout, Linda Whittingham & Bob George (all Wroughton) 20-18. Rink 2: John Rimmer, Trevor Durrant, Robin Haynes & Darren Strowger (all Faringdon) beat Roy Read, Jenny Wilson, Hugh Linning & James Richman (all H’worth) 22-19. Rink 3: Peter Stewart (S&D sec, Westlecot), Roy Major (pres. Supermarine) & Mark Richman (match sec, H’worth) beat Joyce Lewis, Gavin Newman, June Corbett (all Wr’ton, Bowls Wiltshire chairperson) & Dave Richards (Trowbridge Westbourne) 25-16 (result cut to 19-16 win as S&D only fielded a triple). Rink 4: Trevor Andrews, Ann Andrews, Marilyn Kilburn & Mick Kilburn (all Supermarine) beat Mel Williams (H’worth), Jane Croston (Wr’ton), Sid Corbett (Town Gardens) & Babs Salter (Wr’ton) 25-19. Rink 5: Mike Ballard (S’marine), Ken Garrat, Geoff Blackwell & Dave Williams (all Garrards) lost to Lynne Stanford, Janice Bull (both Amesbury), Jim Cremin (Town Gardens) & Brian Whittingham (Wr’ton) 13-29. Rink 6: Valerie Carter, Yvonne Randall, Clive Randall & Keith Carter (all Shrivenham) beat Bronwen Rees, Pat Bevan (both Wr’ton), Peter Sanders (men’s pres, Spencer Melk) & Martin Salter (Wr’ton) 21-12.

Score: Swindon & District BA beat Bowls Wiltshire BA 120-113.

COUNTY ladies and men’s friendlies, under the leadership of Pat Jones (Supermarine) and Pete Sanders (Spencer Melksham) respectively, begin in earnest next week.

The ladies host Warwickshire at Supermarine, while the men meet Gloucestershire at Highworth.

The next Bowls Wiltshire mixed match is scheduled for Sunday, June 4 against Salisbury & District BA at Downton.

WILTSHIRE MEN’S Four Rink League will be played again this season, the top two in each area battling it out in September's play-offs for the overall title won last year in 2015 by Holt, who beat Westlecot in the play-offs final 82-62.

Area A, which compromises of most of the clubs in Swindon and surrounding area, has begun.

Early results: Rodbourne Cheney 12pts-2 Town Gardens; West End 12-2 Cricklade; Swindon v Wanborough and Supermarine v Highworth - postponed; Highworth 12-2 Swindon; Wanborough 1-13 West End; Town Gardens 12-2 Stratton Churchway; Cricklade 6-8 Haydon Wick.