ROYAL Wootton Bassett’s men’s team have won the overall Four Rink League title after triumphing in the end-of-season play-offs last weekend at Devizes.

However, Bassett missed out on a second team title at the Bowls Wiltshire finals, being edged out on shots difference by Box after drawing with them 2-2 on disciplines in the ladies Top Ten final.

Bassett’s men roared to victory in their play-off semi over Chippenham Town, winning on three rinks and drawing on the other in their 80-57 success.

The rinks of Steve Snell and Jeremy Hasleton drew 17-17, Dave Godwin’s quartet beat Steve Heseltine 21-10, Mel Biggs’ foursome beat Neil Connor 20-16 and Gary Morphet’s four beat Willie Jones 22-14.

Bassett followed that up by winning their third four rink league title in four years when they defeated Swindon Westlecot 79-55 in the final.

Bassett’s ladies came extremely close to ending Box’s winning run of seven successive victories in the ladies Top Ten competition final.

They won two of the four disciplines, taking the singles 21-17 and the fours 23-22 but lost the pairs 16-21 and the triples 13-19. This meant the match had to be decided on shots, with Bassett missing out 79-73.

However, Maisie Daniell prevented Bassett’s ladies from ending the domestic finals empty handed.

The teenager was their solitary women’s victor, taking the honours when winning the ladies unbadged singles title.

In the semi-finals Daniel had a hard fought 15-12 win over Ellen Stiles (Devizes) before beating Amesbury’s Louise Chastey 15-5 in the final.

Despite being members of the losing Four Rinks League play-off side, four Westlecot men had the consolation of winning a title.

Dave Matthews, John Thomas and Mike Sawyer (skip) lifted the over-60s triples crown and Brian Whittingham edged home in the greenkeepers singles competition.

Sawyer’s trio trailed Amesbury 5-2 at five ends but eventually won 21-14.

Whittingham was involved in a marathon greenkeepers singles final, which took 29 ends to produce a 21-20 success over Dave Betteridge (Trowbridge T).

Wroughton trio Joyce Lewis, Jean Corbett and ladies county secretary Babs Salter won the ladies county benevolent triples title. They beat Devizes 18-16 in the semi-finals won the final 14-7 against North Wilts.

The final local success was achieved by Wanborough in the officers triples. The trio of Julia Hunt, Deanne Davis and David Adams beat Devizes 25-21 in the final.

However, several local players suffered several defeats in finals.

Stratton Churchway’s Wendy Anderson pushed holder Alex Jacob (Box) hard in the ladies champion of champions but eventually went down 21-18.

Haydon Wick’s Brian Lobley lost 21-16 in the county men’s champion of champions final against Russell Francis (Spencer Moulton).

Swindon North End duo John Pheby and Keith Baker went down 25-13 to Mere in the final of the BW secretary and treasurers competition.

And finally, Supermarine’s mixed team were beaten 49-27 by Avon (Melksham) in the BW mixed double rinks.

Trevor and Ann Andrews, Nikki Kemble-Young and Roy Major lost 14-24 to John Crowder’s rink, while Cheryl Walker, Marian Kilburn, Bill Jordan and Barry Sandry fared no better, losing 13-25 to Tom Newman’s four.

  •  THIS weekend sees the Bowls Wiltshire county men’s president’s team travel to Devon for a four-day tour.

They will be led by president John Southern (Amesbury) and based in Babbacombe.

Matches have been arranged against Babbacombe, Marldon, Paignton, Bitton Park, Teignmouth and Gillingham in Dorset on the way home.

  •  A SPECIAL charity match was staged at Swindon Bowls club last week in aid of Swindon Guide Dogs and raised the magnificent sum of £2,700.

The match was between a John Austin Invitation team, led by the former England men’s president, and the Dennyside Bowling Association, a bowls charity organisation.

A seven-rink game was played and resulted in a win for the Dennyside.