THE VIVIENNE Trophy side have kept the flag flying for North Wilts Bowls Club in the quest for a second national indoor team title.

Losing quarter-finalists last season when beaten 76-71 by Dolphin (Poole), North Wilts ladies team are through again to the last eight.

They booked their quarter-final spot with a 77-61 victory over Torbay on the neutral green at Taunton Deane last Thursday afternoon.

The team showing just one change, Margaret Cooke coming in for Pat Edmonds, to the one that thumped Bristol 80-56 in the last round took the honours in three of the four triples games.

North Wilts trailed across the board after five ends 19-15 but three of the four games were tied however at ten ends parity was restored at 37-37.

The Chippenham-based club then upped their game to move ahead on three of the matches to lead by nine shots 62-53 at 15 ends and finally win the last 16 tie comfortably 77-61 at 18.

Triples teams skipped by June Northam and Rosemary Fitzpatrick both won by seven shots, Brenda Bowen led her trio to a four shots win while Rona Carpenter’s triple pulled back from 13-6 down at ten ends to only go down by two shots 17-15 at 18 ends.

North Wilts progress to the last eight and quarter-finals on Thursday, February 11, where they will meet Dorchester, who beat Hampshire side Palmerston (Fareham) 92-47 in the last round, with two triples games at home at North Wilts and two away in Dorset at Dorchester.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Marilyn Mayhead, Janet Williams & Eirona Carpenter lost to B Creber 15-17. Rink 2: June Coyle, Pam West & Brenda Bowen beat B Beddle 19-15. Rink 3: Margaret Cooke, Lyn Brown & Rosemary Fitzpatrick beat M Cherry 21-14. Rink 4: Fay Allen, Beryl Waters & June Northam beat C Harvey 22-15.

Score: North Wilts beat Torbay 77-61.

ALEX Jacobs continues her quest to add to her impressive list of national bowls titles on Friday.

She competes at Warner Leisure Lakeside Village, Hayling Island, in the final stages of the ladies indoor champion of champions competition.

The North Wilts star begins her bid in the bottom half of the draw for the national C of C crown with a first round (last 16) match at 8pm against Leicestershire’s Barbara Lewis (Barwell).

If successful, Jacobs would then meet in the quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon (4pm) the winner of the Margaret Smith (Sutton, Surrey) and Janet Ridpath (Hartlepool, Co Durham) last 16 clash.

The top half of the draw includes Ellen Falkner (City of Ely) who won the ladies World Matchplay championship at Potters, Norfolk, last weekend and 2014 winner Katherine Rednall (Ipswich).

The semi-finals and final are scheduled for Sunday, January 31.

Last week Jacobs won three Area 30 titles to move into the inter-area finals in the triples and fours in the ladies championships as well as the Over 50s two wood triples - just one step away from the last 16 and final stages in all three events in Melton & District in April or Nottingham in late March.

Last Saturday in the area fours final the North Wilts foursome of Irene Button, Jean Collier, Sue Cooke and skip Jacobs were taken to the wire at home in a tight game by Bristol’s Ros Constant, Kath Bagly, Val Molton and skip Sue Osborne.

They were tied 4-4 at five ends, 11-8 down at ten, tied 12-12 at 15 but 16-14 down at 18 and 17-15 at 20.

However, Jacobs and co grabbed a two on the 21st and last end to tie the game 17-17. This forced an extra end which they duly won for a last gasp 18-17 victory and a place in the inter-area final at Clarrie Dunbar on February 14 (2pm) versus the Area 29 winners St Andrews (Weston-super-Mare) or Taunton Deane.

The next day the same players minus Jean Collier were triumphant away in Clevedon against Jacqui Branfield, Laura Holden and England international Stefanie Branfield in the Area 30 triples final.

Despite the Clevedon trio having home advantage Jacobs’ team led from start to finish in a 19-15 success.

They led 6-5 at five ends, 10-8 at ten, 16-8 at 13 and finally won by four shots 19-15 at 18 ends.

Button, Cooke and Jacobs now move forward to the inter-area final in the national triples championship at City and County of Bristol on February 13 (2pm) against Area 29 winners Taunton Deane or Donyatt.