BOX followed up their impressive runners-up performance at the national championships at Leamington in the Tony Allcock Trophy mixed double rinks by capturing the Bowls Wiltshire equivalent title at Devizes on Saturday.

However, Box – showing several changes to the line-up from their successful run in Leamington – had to work hard for victory over Melksham rivals Avon, coming from behind to win 39-29 overall.

They trailed 11-2 after five ends and were 19-10 down across the board after 10.

But Box fought back well in the second half of the match to turn the game around and grab victory. Overall, they were tied 24-24 after 15 ends, had moved ahead 33-27 at 18 and finally won 39-29.

The foursome of Paul Netherwood, Ian Collier, Debbie Shadwell and skip Kathryn Yeoman won their match 23-15. The other rink of Jean Collier, Jane Taylor, Maurice Byron and skip Nick Grenfell won 16-14.

Box’s ladies retained their county Top Ten title after a hard-fought scrap against Swindon Supermarine, edging to an 84-76 success despite drawing on disciplines 2-2.

Box won the pairs and triples matches but lost on the singles and fours.

This was the 10th successive season that Box have won this top Wiltshire ladies team title and the first time Supermarine had reached the final.

The pairs match was a tight affair, with Box duo Karen Funnell and Alex Jacobs eventually triumphing 26-19.

The triples team of Helen Ellis, Carol Massey and Sue Cooke cruised to a convincing 28-9 success.

Jean Collier lost 21-17 to Nicki Kemble-Young in the singles, while the Box foursome of Lolly Braddon, Jane Taylor, Debbie Shadwell and Kathryn Yeoman were beaten 27-13 in the fours.

Box then completed a hat-trick of titles when winning the BW Officers triples as the trio of Ian and Jean Collier plus Kathryn Yeoman defeated North Wilts trio of June Coyle, June and Mike Pengelly.

Box led 7-6 at six ends, 22-10 at 12 before finally winning 25-13 after only 17 ends.

There were also two final defeats for Box at Devizes – in the delayed ladies national pairs contest and the BW County Benevolent Triples.

The triple of Lolly Braddon, Jane Taylor and Jean Collier were 12-5 up after 11 ends but then lost the next five to lose 14-12 to Amesbury.

And in the county national pairs, Box’s Debbie Shadwell was denied a hat-trick of county ladies titles by Stratton Churchway duo Jackie Pearce and Janet Willis, having previously won the triples and fours crowns.

Shadwell and partner Kathryn Yeoman went down 23-17.

  • CHIPPENHAM Town men accounted for Avon in the senior O60s triples.

Rob Clews, Richard Gainey and Will Jones defeated the Avon trio of Malcolm Hole, Richard Buckland and Pete Renshaw 21-9.

Holt are normally prolific scorers at the domestic finals but had a quiet weekend this year and only won one event – the men’s unbadged singles final.

Chris Poole narrowly defeated Spencer Melksham’s Jordan Moore 21-19.

Winsley went close to a rare title success Jane Kimber went extremely close to a success as she fell to a 16-15 defeat on an extra end to Westlecot’s Sue Fletcher in the ladies’ county unbadged singles final.

Finally, the Mere club, near Warminster, won the Bowls Wiltshire secretary and treasurer’s pairs title for the second time in three years.

Don Butchers and Richard Coombs beat Rodbourne Cheney’s Dave Royle and Steve Rose 21-19.