WILTSHIRE men have qualified for the Middleton Cup quarter-finals for the third year in a row.

Beaten finalists last season at Worthing they booked their place in the last eight again with a powerful second-half performance at Wootton Bassett against Warwickshire to run out 121-102 victors last Saturday.

Wiltshire won on four of the six rinks and drew on another to take 19 of the 22 points on offer in their final round robin group match.

And as Worcestershire beat Gloucestershire the Moonrakers leapt from third to first to top the group table and seal a last-eight spot.

Team manager Dave Snell was forced into making a late change with England international Graham Shadwell withdrawing on match day with a shoulder injury.

Holt’s Ben Gadd moved to skip with Paul Stokes coming into the side.

Wiltshire made a slow start and trailed 22-28 across the board at five ends but were 39-38 up at eight. They then powered away to lead 90-67 at 15 and finally won the crucial group decider 121-102.

Russell Francis’ rink of Wayne Simmonds, Chris Cheesley, Dave Godwin and himself led the way again with a 12 shot victory, their third, to maintain their unbeaten group record this season.

The foursome’s skipped by Mel Biggs, Mike Jackson and Neil Smith all trailed at 11 ends but hit back to register wins while Ben Gadd’s rink despite being 15-9 up at 15 ends had to settle for a draw.

Wiltshire will now face Group 4 Section B (West) winners Devon on Saturday, July 20 with a semi-final place at Worthing at stake on a neutral green, still to be decided but probably in North Somerset.

RINK RESULTS

Rink 1: Gary Jackson (Westlecot), Tom Warner (Amesbury), Wayne Snook & Ben Gadd (both Holt) drew with Colin Jaycox 18-18. Rink 2: Nick Revell (Amesbury), Paul Macdonald (Chippenham T), Tom Walkley & Stephen Snell (both Wootton Bassett) lost to Mick Hawkins 14-19. Rink 3: Kyle Anderson (WB), Keith Bailey (Holt), Ian Jefferies & Mike Jackson (both W’lecot) beat Alan Apsey 25-21. Rink 4: Kevin Embling (W’lecot), James Nobbs, Gary Morphet & Neil Smith (all WB) beat Stuart Thomas 19-16. Rink 5: Wayne Simmonds (Holt), Chris Cheesley (WB), Dave Godwin (Chip T) & Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton) beat Calvin Wells 23-11. Rink 6: Paul Kistle, Paul Stokes, Graham Hatherall & Mel Biggs (all W’lecot) beat Andy Smith 22-17.

Score: Wiltshire beat Warwickshire 121-102 and by 19pts to 3.

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