NORTH Wilts were beaten 94-71 in their latest Wessex League central region match, the derby against Christie Miller.

The Chippenham side made a poor start and trailed 29-11 across the board after five ends but rallied to cut the deficit to only 39-36 after ten.

But, in the second-half the North Wilts home rink skipped by Richard Gainey and Trevor Cooke’s away rink both struggled as Christie Miller upped the pace and pulled away to lead 71-54 at 15 ends and seal a 94-71 victory at 21.

North Wilts only took the honours on one rink that skipped away by Alan Small. They won 26-10 to take two points out of the possible 16 on offer.

But at Westcroft Keith Hutchens rink was involved throughout in a tight game with his quartet just being edged out on the last end 21-20.

North Wilts, who are now fifth in the central table, play basement side Thornbury in their next group fixture on Sunday, February 1.

Elsewhere leaders Clarrie Dunbar thumped Thornbury 122-37 while Bristol edged out Nailsea 77-73.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 3: Richard Jennings, Maurice Byron, Dave Williams & Keith Hutchens lost to Chris Easton, Mike Savin, John Crowder & Paul Macdonald 20-21. Rink 2: Gerry Tinson, Jan Rodgers, Alan Greenland & Richard Gainey lost to John Bailey, Steve Snook, Graham Archard & Andy Moore 13-32.

Away - Rink 2: Eddie Haslop, Peter Sanders, Clive Swift & Trevor Cooke lost to Rod Summers, Paul Barnes, Dave Laws & Nigel Price 12-31. Rink 3: Alan Stell, Dave Edmonds, Bob Hayes & Alan Small beat Tom Newman, Adrian Bolwell, Bob Pratt & Brian Routledge 26-10.

Score: North Wilts 71 (2pts) lost to Christie Miller 94 (14pts).

Away - Rink 2: Eddie Haslop, Peter Sanders, Clive Swift & Trevor Cooke lost to Rod Summers, Paul Barnes, Dave Laws & Nigel Price 12-31. Rink 3: Alan Stell, Dave Edmonds, Bob Hayes & Alan Small beat Tom Newman, Adrian Bolwell, Bob Pratt & Brian Routledge 26-10.

Score: North Wilts 71 (2pts) lost to Christie Miller 94 (14pts).

THE LADIES at North Wilts went into the new year still deeply involved in national team and national championship competitions with optimism high of adding to the three nationals titles that the club has previously won.

Winners in 2008 of the Yetton Trophy, national inter-club knock-out championship, they have reached this season’s last 32 after victories over Thornbury 84-73, Clarrie Dunbar 86-61 and Bristol 99-58 and are due to face Ilminster in round four this Saturday.

North Wilts Ladies have also qualified for the fourth round (last 16) in the Vivienne Trophy after wins over Bristol 91-81 and Nailsea 96-64 and will meet Isca (Exeter, Devon) in the next round on Thursday, January 15.

Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs feature prominently in North Wilts bid for glory in national championship events.

The duo, winners of the national pairs title in 2010 have reached the Area 30 ladies pairs final once again following several big wins and will face Laura Holden and Stefanie Branfield (Clevedon).

In the national triples the pair are joined by Janet Hardie and have also reached the area final. They booked their place against Sue Osborne (Bristol) after an 18-16 semi-final win over Cynthia Winter-Alsop’s Thornbury triple last Saturday.

However, the Area 30 national fours final will not be an all-North Wilts affair after Carol Massey, Jane Taylor, Irene Button and Jean Collier lost in the semi-final 25-18 to Clevedon.

Instead Molly Manning, Hardie, Cooke and Jacobs will face Clevedon’s Sheila Short, Jacqui Branfield, Laura Holden and England senior international Stefanie Branfield in the final on or before January 25, the same closing date as for the pairs and triples finals.

But, Jacobs and Cooke have a date set for their other area 30 final where they are joined by Jean Collier. They will play in Melksham next Monday (Jan 12) in the Over 50 two wood triples final against Christie Miller’s Wendy Gaisford, Bev Lilley and Sheila Garlick.

WILTSHIRE Ladies faded on the run-in and were beaten in the quarter-finals of the Atherley Cup at North Wilts on Sunday by Devon.

They were only one shot adrift at 18 ends across the board in the inter-county championship last eight home tie but then dropped 20 shots in the last three ends only scoring eight to lose by 13 going down 125-112.

It was a disappointing finish for the Wiltshire ladies side who were forced to make several changes to their selected line-up owing to illness.

However, the new look side made a flying start and across the board led 37-18 at five ends and 68-61 at ten but were then hauled back.

Visitors Devon edged 95-91 ahead at 15 and held a narrow 105-104 advantage at 18 but then powered away to victory.

Rink honours were shared 3-3 with Sue Cooke’s rink recording the biggest success of 18 shots, while Fizz Mace won by seven shots and Alex Jacobs by five but combined they could not wipe out the heavy Wendy Anderson loss of 27 shots and Sheila Garlick’s 11 shots.

Devon will now meet Surrey in the semi-finals on March 15 who edged home 112-11 in a thriller against Kent in the quarter-finals.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Linda Perfitt (Westlecot), Viv Baskerville, Brenda Bowen & Fizz Mace (all North Wilts) beat Barbara Bellamy 21-14.

Rink 2: Shirley Palfrey, May Brand (both NW), Joan Coleman (Five Rivers) & Janet Hardie (NW) lost to Ruth Rogers 16-21.

Rink 3: Eileen Hawker (Christie Miller), Jan Tombs (NW), Bev Lilley & Sheila Garlick (both CM) lost to Carol Binmore 19-30.

Rink 4: Ann Roberts-Phare (NW), Jenny Vowles (West), Jane Taylor & Alex Jacobs (both NW) beat Eileen Rich 19-14.

Rink 5: Norma Rowden (NW), Mary Buckle (FR), Jean Collier & Sue Cooke (both NW) beat Hilary Avent 28-10.

Rink 6: Julia Hunt (West), Evelyn Tape (NW), Janice Bull (FR) & Wendy Anderson (West) lost to Val Lander 9-36.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Devon 112-125.