Gloucestershire (2pts) 86-151 (20pts) Devon

FIVE enforced changes left Gloucestershire with a mammoth task against Devon in the Middleton Cup at Topsham B. C.

Their only winning rink in a 151-86 defeat came from Tim Bloomer (Fairford), Alex White (Cheltenham), Brian Burleigh and Keith Hinder (both Dursley) who up against Ian Lesley grabbed a thrilling 20-19 win when they picked up a three on the very last end.

Earlier they had come from 6-2 down to trail by one shot after 10 ends 11-10. All square after 15 ends at 15-15 they fell behind by two with three ends to play.

Still two behind going into the last end they held three for a famous win.

The rink of Martin Shepherd (Northwick), Pete Stinchcombe (Tetbury), Nigel Cansdale (Fairford) and Nathan Kitchen (Cheltenham) up against James Chestney went seven behind at the hallway stage and ended up on the wrong end of a 20-13 defeat.

Jack Williams, James Speller, Rob Griffiths, Rob Gwilliam (all Cheltenham) who up against Griff Sanders lost 10 shots on the first two ends before pulling back to be 17-13 down.

A costly dropped six saw them end up losing 28-19.

Nick Charlwood (Cheltenham), Josh Phillips (Ardagh), Ben Coldrick and Matt Cuthbert (Both Cheltenham) were just one shot behind Sam Tolchard 7-6 after five ends before they only picked up single shot to go 16-7 five ends later. By the end the rink suffered a 27-14 loss.

Jack Daniels (Cheltenham) Vince Wilks (Gloucester City), Mike Prosser (Gloucester Spa) and Matt Curtis against Robert Paxton picked up just four shots in the first 10 ends to be 14-4 down and in the end they managed double figures losing 28-10.

Debutant Joe Hardwick, John Smallwood, Paul Bryant and another debutant Ian Gauld (all Olveston) got the better of James Webber early on leading 5-3, however the shots dried up and they could only grab another three in the next 13 ends. Reaching double figures, they lost out 29-10.