THE COUNTY ladies two wood singles competition took centre stage last Saturday as players from around Wiltshire battled for a last-eight spot to keep their hopes alive of playing in this event at the national championships at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

An initial entry of 68 players was scheduled to contest the opening rounds at both Pewsey and Devizes with only one of last season’s quarter- finalists Sue Cooke (Box) qualifying again this time around.

Pewsey Bowls Club hosted the northern section in the ladies county national two wood singles championship and from a final entry of 33 players Katy Smith (Wootton Bassett), June Corbett (Town Gardens), Carole Coombs (Westlecot) and former finalist Alison Fail (Purton) were left standing and qualified for the quarter-finals and semi-finals at North Wilts on Friday, June 19.

To book their places at North Wilts in the last eight in their last two wood qualifying games at Pewsey Katy Smith eliminated her elder sister Lucy, June Corbett beat Chippenham Town’s Irene Button, Carole Coombs edged past Wootton Bassett’s Charlie Harding while Alison Fail grabbed a shot on the last end to beat her doubles partner and fellow Purton team mate Chris Mitchell by one shot.

The two greens at Devizes were used for the southern section in the ladies two wood singles with the Box trio of Sue Cooke (holder), Alex Jacobs and Jean Collier plus Amesbury’s Janice Bull claiming a quarter-final spot at North Wilts on June 19.

DRAW

Quarter-finals (at North Wilts, June 19): June Corbett (Town Gardens) v Alison Fail (Purton); Carole Coombs (Westlecot) v Jean Collier (Box); Katy Smith (Wootton Bassett) v Alex Jacobs (Box); Sue Cooke (Box) v Janice Bull (Amesbury).

The form book was upheld on Tuesday evening in the second round of the county ladies triples championships.

Six clubs supplied the eight winners in the northern section with Wootton Bassett teams skipped by Pat Edmonds and Bev Williamson successful.

While a Malmesbury triple led by Paola Meekins also booked a place in Friday’s third round.

And two trios from Devizes skipped by Sue Ochyra and Mary Jones were also second round victors.

In Friday’s third round Bassett’s Bev Williamson will meet Janet Willis (Stratton Churchway).

Meanwhile Bassett’s other triples team led by Pat Edmonds has home advantage over Malmesbury’s Paola Meekins.

And Devizes duo Mary Jones and Sue Ochyra play Mary Parker-Smith (Wilton) and Cathy Hill (Warminster) respectively.

The county ladies side open their bid for glory this season in the inter-county championship this Saturday at Devizes (1.30pm).

Wiltshire women have been drawn in a five counties west group and face Devon in the opening 2015 Johns Trophy group match.

They will also have to play Dorset (a) on June 20; Herefordshire at home at Devizes on June 27 and complete their group fixtures with an away trip to Worcestershire on July 4.

Only the group winner progresses to the quarter-finals (last eight.

The team selected for the first group match against Devon contains players from only nine clubs around the county including Devizes pair Sue Ochyra and Bev Lilley, the teenage Smith sisters Lucy and Katy from Wootton Bassett, and Box trio Sue Cooke, Alex Jacobs and newcomer Kathryn Holmes.