WILTSHIRE women’s hopes of progress in this season’s inter-county championship are over for another year after they fell at the first hurdle, crashing to a 55-shot defeat at the hands of Oxfordshire.

They made a reasonable start to the away first round Atherley Trophy tie at Oxford City and County Indoor Bowls Club and were only 35-27 down across the board at five ends.

But the match was finished as a contest in the next five as Wiltshire women only scored 12 more shots but conceded a massive 53 to trail 88-39 at halfway (10 ends).

Playing catch-up, the Moonraker ladies rallied to keep the deficit at the same level in the second half of the match but were of course always fighting a lost cause.

Wiltshire conceded the match across the board at 19 ends with the score at 148-93 with only Janet Hardie’s rink completing 21 ends.

They led for most of their match on rink one and were 16-10 up at 15 ends but failed to score again and lost 18-16 - Wiltshire’s lowest defeat.

Next best were Alex Jacobs and Sue Cooke’s rinks that only went down by four and five shots respectively.

However, the other three all lost by double figure scores to complete a miserable day for the Wiltshire Ladies side.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Ann White, Jane Taylor, Jean Collier & Janet Hardie (all North Wilts) lost to Brenda Havard 16-18 (21 ends). Rink 2: Pat Sharp (Five Rivers, Salisbury), Jan Tombs (NW), Sheila Garlick (Christie Miller) & Fizz Mace (NW) lost to Sue Stewart 16-28 (19 ends). Rink 3: Joyce Little (CM), Viv Baskerville (NW), Janice Bull & Joan Coleman (both FR) lost to Jane Murphy 10-31 (20 ends). Rink 4: Norma Rowden, June Coyle, Evelyn Tape & Sue Cooke (all NW) lost to Shirley Crick 20-25 (20 ends). Rink 5: Ann Roberts-Phare, Val Molton, Irene Button & Alex Jacobs (all NW) lost to Jeanette Berry 19-23 (19 ends). Rink 6: Eileen Hawker (CM), Jenny Vowles (Swindon Westlecot), Delia Godwin (CM) & Wendy Anderson (West) lost to Ann Norton 12-23 (19 ends).

Score: Wiltshire Ladies lost to Oxfordshire 93-148.

NORTH WILTS men also suffered a heavy defeat at the weekend as they were beaten 80-34 by Gloucestershire side Cotswold (Stroud) in the first round of the Denny Plate, inter-club championship.

North Wilts won on one of the home rinks against Cotswold and only lost on aggregate 24-20 at Westcroft but away crashed 56-14.

Results

Home – Rink 2: Chris Brown beat Dave Howes 12-7 (15 ends). Rink 5: Keith Hutchens lost to Nick Holiday 8-17 (17 ends). Away, Rink 3: Justin Davis lost to Keith Hinder 7-26 (19 ends). Rink 4: Roger Button lost to Steve Knight  7-30 (18 ends). 

It means the men and mixed teams at Westcroft are out of all national competitions this season except for the men’s Over 60s Inter-Club Double Rinks, in which both the A and B teams are still running.

The A team registered a hard-fought second round victory over local rivals Clarrie Dunbar after trailing across the board 21-19 at 10 ends but edging in front 32-31 at 15 and going on to win by ten shots 49-39.

At home Roger Button’s rink was tied 9-9 at ten ends but had pulled away to lead 19-13 at 15 and eventually won by seven shots.

However, at Clarrie Dunbar Trevor Cooke’s rink were always behind, trailing 12-4 at seven ends, 18-13 at 18 and 22-19 at 20 but then grabbed a six on the last end to snatch a last gasp 25-22 victory.

The B side produced a fine fighting display in the second round but trailed for most of the match across the board against Thornbury. However, they staged a remarkable recovery to eventually win 46-41.

At home Chris Brown’s rink were 16-3 down at ten ends but then won ten of the last 11 to lead for the first time 20-18 on the 20th end and then collect another two to win 22-18.

In sharp contrast at Thornbury, Mal Curtis’ quartet led for most of the way but were pegged back to a single shot success 24-23.

The A team play Nailsea on Nov 27 while the B team face Clevedon the next day.

RESULTS

A team v Clarrie Dunbar, Home: Alan Stell, Dave Williams, Maurice Byron & Roger Button beat Mike Sawyers 24-17. Away: Bill Williams, Dave Edmonds, Bob Clews & Trevor Cooke beat Alan Totterdale 25-22.

Score: North Wilts beat Clarrie Dunbar 49-39.

B team v Thornbury, Home: Bob George, Colin Hicks, John Lucas & Chris Brown beat Terry Winter-Alsop 22-18. Away: Richard Jennings, Derek Clark, Bob Chalmers & Mal Curtis beat A Iles 24-23.

Score: North Wilts beat Thornbury 46-41.

SIX members of the North Wilts men’s section have been selected to play for Wiltshire in the men’s inter-county championship.

Steve Snook, John Buckland, Max Clark, Wayne Snook all form one rink while Alan Greenland and Keith Hutchens have been picked in another for the Liberty Trophy first round away tie on Saturday morning (10am) against Gloucestershire at MidGlos.

And on Sunday morning (10am) North Wilts men begin their 2013/14 regional campaign in the Wessex League.

Their opening match in the seven team central region section is against Purnell (Paulton).

Meanwhile North Wilts ladies compete in round two of the Yetton Plate on Saturday.

After a 103-75 victory over Purnell they face much tougher opposition as they have been drawn against Bristol in the next round.

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