WILTSHIRE Ladies' hopes of a good run in this year’s inter-county championship for the Johns Trophy were dashed last Saturday by Devon away at Culm Vale.

After keeping matters tight against the top west country side and leading by three shots 90-87 across the board at 15 ends they slumped in the last quarter of the match and were beaten 133-105.

It was a disappointing ending as Wiltshire were 32-27 up at five ends, 69-52 down at 10 but had roared back to lead by three shots 90-87 at 15 before the wheels came off.

They only scored another 15 shots but dropped 46 to finish well beaten.

Wiltshire only collected four points from the 22 on offer, courtesy of the two winning rinks skipped by Carol Grenfell and Margaret Annetts, who registered 23-11 and 18-9 victories respectively.

Devon who won their group last season are now favourites to repeat that success again this time around in 2016.

Wiltshire ladies next Johns Trophy West Group B match is home against Dorset at Devizes on Saturday, June 25.

The selectors have yet to name their line-up for the Dorset game.

After that they travel to Weobley to play Herefordshire on July 2 and end their group campaign against Worcestershire at Devizes on July 9.

Only the group winner progresses to the quarter-finals against the winner of other west group.

RESULTS v Devon Rink 1: Patricia Murray (Royal Wootton Bassett), Deanne Davis (Wanborough), Charlie Godwin (RWB) & Carol Grenfell (Box) beat Sharon Parnell 23-11. Rink 2: Margaret Cooke (Broughton Gifford), Christabel Francis (Spencer Melksham), Marcia Hartley (Avon) & Margaret Annetts (Salisbury) beat Sue Evans 18-9. Rink 3: Jean Collier (Box), Maisie Daniell (RWB), Joanna Richman & Linda Kingston (both Highworth) lost to Kay Page 22-28. Rink 4: Chris Mitchell (Purton), Janice Rowe (Amesbury), Debbie Shadwell (Box) & Janet Willis (Stratton Churchway) lost to Joan Martin 12-34. Rink 5: Kara Little (Box), Viv Baskerville (Chippenham Town), Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs (all Box) lost to Liz Smerdon 16-32. Rink 6: Anne Roberts-Phare (North Wilts), Lesley Trattles (Wilton), Janice Bull (Ames) & Sue Ochyra (Devizes) lost to Julia Barnes 14-19.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Devon 105-133 and by 4pts to 18pts.

DEVIZES will have two teams contesting the ladies quarter and semi-finals in the county triples competition this Saturday at Wilton (10.15am).

They will both be bidding to reach the last two and a place in the county final at Supermarine at the end of July plus the honour of representing Wiltshire in the triples competition at the ladies national championships at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

The combination of Rose Merritt, Patricia Reeves and Sue Ochyra (skip) knocked out previous winners Alderbury in the last round to reach the last eight in the Wiltshire ladies triples competition.

Meanwhile the trio of Ellen Stiles, Bev Lilley and Sheila Garlick (skip) also beat another Alderbury combination away to secure their quarter-final spot at Wilton.

The Wilton draw has been kind to the two Devizes trios keeping them apart so the hope of going to Leamington together is a live possibility.

Garlick’s team are in the top half of the draw and face a side from Purton led by Judith Fish in the quarter-finals while in the bottom half Ochyra’s triple face a new combination this season from Stratton Churchway led by Janet Willis.

Combinations from Box, Highworth, Amesbury and another team from Purton also feature in the county ladies triples quarter-finals.

TRIPLES DRAW

Quarter-finals at Wilton, this Saturday June 11 (10.15am): Chris Mitchell, Julie Jones & Alison Fail (Purton) v Kara Little, Jane Taylor & Michele Williams (Box); Ellen Stiles, Bev Lilley & Sheila Garlick (Devizes) v Judy Preddy, Val Baster and Judith Fish (Purton); Rose Merritt, Patricia Reeves & Sue Ochyra (Devizes) v Josie Lloyd, Wendy Anderson & Janet Willis (Stratton Churchway); Maggie Jordan, Joanna Richman & Linda Kingston (Highworth) v Ann Humphries, Lyn Stanford & Janice Rowe (Amesbury).

Semi-finals to be played in the afternoon.

THE COUNTY ladies pairs championship began in earnest this week with first round matches played on Monday evening and second round games scheduled for Friday.

The third round (last 16) will be held next Monday with the four winners in both the northern and southern areas progressing to the quarter and semi-finals next Saturday, June 18 at Holt (10.15am).