CHIPPENHAM TOWN just missed out on becoming the second Wiltshire rink in four years to win the National Mixed Fours Championship at Worthing, writes DAVE EATON.

They lost in the semi-finals to Hampshire representatives Atherley, Southampton, the eventual victors, going down 25-9 despite being tied 4-4 at five ends and only trailing at halfway 8-9 at ten ends.

But then the Chippenham Town rink and Area 14 championship winning quartet of Yvonne Savin, Delia and Dave Godwin and skip Paul Macdonald only picked-up one shot in the next five ends but dropped 12 shots and never recovered.

They had booked their place in the last four with a very comfortable 29-13 win in the last 16 over Devon representatives Newton Abbot but then were taken to the wire before beating Clarence, Weston-Super-Mare (Somerset) 16-15 on an extra end.

In the quarter-finals versus Clarence, the Chippenham foursome had to pull out all the stops to snatch victory grabbing a three on the 21st end to force an extra end.

They were 1-5 down at five ends and 4-8 adrift at ten. They took the lead on the 14th end with a single to go 9-8 up but on the next dropped a three to trail 9-11 and at 19 ends were staring defeat in the face as they trailed 11-15 with two ends remaining.

However, a single on the 20th gave them hope and then they grabbed a three on the last to send the match into overtime.

And on the deciding extra end Chippenham’s Dave Godwin delivered the match-winning bowl to seal a great fightback.

However, the fine run came to an end in the semi-finals.

Chippenham’s representatives of Willie Jones, subbing for the unavailable Jeremy Haselton and skip Steve Heseltine made a swift exit in the pairs championship being beaten 22-12 in the first round by a duo from Alnwick, Northumberland.

RESULTS

Last 16: Yvonne Savin, Delia Godwin, Dave Godwin and Paul Macdonald beat Terri Kennard, Julia Barnes, Mark Howard and Steve Clark (Newton Abbot) 29-13 (18 ends only).

Quarter-final: Paul Macdonald (skip) beat Barry Forse (Clarence, Weston S M) 16-15 (after extra end).

Semi-final: P Macdonald lost to Anne Pearce, Wendy Line, Peter Line and Colin Thresher (Atherley, Southampton, Hants) 9-25.

Final: Atherley beat Burradon & Gosforth (Northumberland) 20-13.

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