WILTSHIRE’S best junior players started their quest for national team success in the first round of this year’s Inter County Championships.

Stage One started for the girls on Saturday, with the U13 team travelling to Cheltenham to take on Gloucestershire, South East Wales and Dorset while the U17s hosted SE Wales, Dorset and Devon at Tidworth.

As the Welsh proved a cut above the rest, the day eventually hinged on deciding matches against Dorset in the U13s and Devon in the U17s.

Despite magnificent performances from Sophie Bolland (St John’s Marlborough) and Talia Eastlake (Dauntsey’s) in the U13s, they eventually lost the tie 2-1.

It was a similar tale at Tidworth as the U17s were narrowly beaten by Devon 3-2, pushing both the girls teams in to third place.

The boys' U13 team also face a wait after finishing third on Sunday at Beaconsfield behind Hampshire and winners Buckinghamshire.

The highlight of the weekend was the performance from the boys U19 team, who won a decisive rubber against Dorset to progress.

Wins at the top order for Calli Smith (Ridgeway) and Cam Stratton (Millfield) added to the earlier victory of Marlborough College’s Sam Nelson-Piercey. Kieran Mellor (Commonweal) secured qualification with a 3-2 win.

The U15s hosted Kent, Surrey and Hampshire at Swindon’s Oasis, finishing fourth.

Valuable points from Michael Mellor (Commonweal) and Joe Prodger (Dauntsey’s) against Surrey and a stand out display from Dan Davis (St John’s, Marlborough) against Hampshire number one and England international Jared Carter wasn’t enough to save the U17s from last place at Maidenhead.