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Warren claims Wiltshire crown
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Friday 4th Aug 2000.
BOWLS
WESTLECOT'S Steve Warren became the county singles champion for the second time on Sunday.
He came through a tough battle against Martyn Murley, of Wootton Bassett, by 21-15 in the singles final at the Wiltshire Bowls Association championship finals at Westlecot.
Tony Stevenson and Mark Dyer (Westlecot) were the pairs runners-up for the second successive year, going down 12-20 in a hard-fought match against new champions, Martyn Murley and Neil Smith (Wootton Bassett).
In an all-Westlecot triples final, last year's beaten finalists Mel Biggs, Mark Dyer and Steve Warren were crowned champions after their 17-13 triumph against clubmates Graham Hatherall, Mike Jackson and Ian Jefferies.
Westlecot's Kevin Embling, Graham Hatherall, Ian Jefferies and Mike Jackson dominated the fours final, running out as 32-4 winners against West End's Mike Clifton, Dave Thompson, Rodney Green and Sean Spackman.
All the finalists have qualified for the EBA national championships at Worthing.
Several of the Wiltshire contingent are no strangers to national success at Worthing in recent years. Mel Biggs and Steve Warren won the national pairs titles in 1995 and with Tony Stevenson and Mark Dyer went on to win the national fours championship in 1997. In 1996 Graham Hatherall was a national singles semi-finalist and in 1998 Neil Smith was a semi-finalist in the national champion of champions event.
Results: singles, Steve Warren (Westlecot) 21, Martyn Murley (Wootton Bassett) 15; pairs, Tony Stevenson and Mark Dyer (Westlecot) 12, Martyn Murley and Neil Smith (Wootton Bassett) 20; triples, Graham Hatherall, Mike Jackson and Ian Jefferies (Westlecot) 13, Mel Biggs, Mark Dyer and Steve Warren (Westlecot) 17; fours, Kevin Embling, Graham Hatherall, Ian Jefferies and Mike Jackson (Westlecot) 32, Mike Clifton, Dave Thompson, Rodney Green and Sean Spackman (West End) 4.
HIGHWORTH are through to the regional finals of the National Club Two Fours Championship.
They clinched their place in the last 16 of the competition with a comprehensive victory over Newbury.
They defeated the Berkshire side 47-23 in the area final that was staged at Highworth.
The hosts produced a superb display and led overall throughout .
The two rinks combined held a 23-7 shot lead after ten ends, were 31-18 ahead after 15 and sealed victory as both rinks weighed in with fives on the 19th end.
Neil Hope's rink made a lightning start collecting a three, single and five on the opening three ends to lead 9-0.
They conceded a four on the sixth but after ten ends held a healthy 15-7 advantage.
The Newbury quartet hit back and after 14 ends had cut the lead to only 16-12.
But two singles and a two eased the tension for the Highworth rink as they pulled away again culminating in a five on the 19th end.
Dave Warren's quartet made a more sedate start and trailed 4-3 after five ends but held an 8-5 advantage after ten.
But with Eric Winter peppering the jack and Chris Blount drawing superbly they went 13-6 up at 15 ends and 16-7 ahead after 18.
They killed-off their game with a five on the 19th and it was handshakes after 20 ends on both greens with Highworth in an unassailable position.
It was a great team performance, said Highworth's Martin Hope, and a great win for the Highworth club.
Ît is possibly the best team result for the club in a national competition since 1976.
Everyone was up for this match, now we are looking forward to the regional final and hopefully reaching Worthing for the final stages.
Neil has put this club on the map recently with his junior international call-up, now this has helped to increase our standing.
On their route to the regional finals Highworth have eliminated Rodbourne Cheney, Wills , Swindon BC, Hampshire sides Pyestock and Oakley and of course Newbury.
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