WILTSHIRE Ladies bounced back from their loss to Devon in their opening 2016 inter-counties championship group game with a 118-101 victory over Dorset at Devizes in their second Johns Trophy match.

They took the honours last Saturday on three of the six rinks, drew on two others and only lost on one to neighbours Dorset to collect 18 of the 22 points on offer.

Wiltshire ladies, who led throughout at Devizes, made a flying start and led across the board 34-19 after five ends but at ten the lead had been reduced to 55-47.

They upped the tempo to move 86-69 clear at 15, fought off a Dorset recovery to lead 97-88 at 18 and finally run-out 118-101 victors at 21.

Marcia Hartley’s revamped rink produced Wiltshire’s biggest winning margin of 13 shots while there were nine and seven wins for the rinks skipped by Sue Ochyra and Alex Jacobs.

Draws were registered by the two foursomes skipped by Linda Kingston and Margaret Annetts.

Kingston was 18-16 down at 16 ends but led 22-18 at 19 only to drop two twos on ends 20 and 21 and be pegged back to a 22-22 draw.

While Annetts’ rink was 15-11 down at 18 ends but grabbed a single on the 21st end for a last gasp 16-16 draw.

Wiltshire remain in fourth spot in their west group despite this victory. However, they will be looking to move up the table this weekend as they travel to Weobley to face Herefordshire, the basement club, in their third and penultimate group match this Saturday (1.30pm).

The county selectors have made one change to the side that beat Dorset with Royal Wootton Bassett’s Lucy Smith coming in as lead on Margaret Annett’s rink to replace Margaret Cooke.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Patricia Murray (Royal Wootton Bassett), Deanne Davis (Wanborough), Charlie Godwin (RWB) & Carol Grenfell lost to L Howard 11-23. Rink 2: Katy Smith (RWB), Viv Baskerville (Chippenham Town), Debbie Shadwell (Box) & Marcia Hartley (Avon) beat J Bryant 25-12; Rink 3: Jean Collier (Box), Maisie Daniell (RWB), Joanna Richman & Linda Kingston (both Highworth) drew with Penny Cresswell 22-22. Rink 4: Margaret Cooke (Broughton Gifford), Cristabel Francis (Spencer Melksham), Laura Laytham (Town Gardens) & Margaret Annetts (Salisbury) drew with M Clapp 16-16. Rink 5: Alison Fail (Purton), Kara Little, Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs (all Box) beat B Plympton 23-16. Rink 6: Georgina Newman (Avon), Lesley Trattles, Janice Bull (Amesbury) & Sue Ochyra (Devizes) beat Jenny Andrews 21-12.

Score: Wiltshire beat Dorset 118-101 and by 18pts to 4pts.

THE following day at Devizes, Wiltshire ladies made a fine start in the first round of the Walker Cup against Dorset who they had beaten the previous day in the Johns Trophy.

Despite rink honours being shared 1-1 Wiltshire came out on top 38-34 against Dorset in this inter-counties double rinks competition tie.

Wiltshire led throughout across the board throughout thanks to the sterling efforts of Carol Grenfell’s rink.

The Moonraker county led 12-4 after five ends, 20-16 at halfway (11 ends), 29-25 after 15 and 33-30 at 18 before holding on for a 38-34 success to book a place in the regional finals on Sunday, July 17 at Winscombe Bc (Somerset) which will also feature hosts Somerset, Worcestershire and Devon.

Grenfell’s rink against Dorset led 9-0 at five ends, 16-5 at ten, 19-19 at 15 before finally winning 24-13.

Jacobs rink though were 4-3 down after five ends and 11-4 adrift at ten but had pulled back to only 11-10 down after 14. But a five on the next proved extremely costly as they were 19-12 down at 18 and finally lost by seven shots 21-14 but Grenfell’s rink easily cancelled out this loss.

RESULTS

Rink 2: Jean Collier (Box), Katy Smith (Royal Wootton Bassett), Linda Kingston (Highworth) & Carol Grenfell (Box) beat L Howard 24-13. Rink 4: Alison Fail (Purton), Margaret Annetts (Salisbury), Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs (both Box) lost to Penny Cresswell 14-21.

Score: Wiltshire beat Dorset 38-34.

THE COUNTY women’s team under the stewardship of 2016 ladies president Pat Jones from Supermarine enjoyed two victories last week on successive days in county friendly matches.

They beat Berkshire comfortably at home at Pewsey last Tuesday 129-81 and next day travelled to Wales to run-up a comprehensive 124-70 victory over Pen Y Glen at Blaina (Gwent).

On both occasions Wiltshire took the honours on five of the six rinks.

RESULTS v Berkshire (skips only) Rink 1: Maureen Woolley (Alderbury) beat L Robinson 29-7. Rink 2: Trish Jarrett (Pewsey) beat A Ward 22-10. Rink 3: Pat Jones (Supermarine) lost to S Harrison 15-26. Rink 4: Joan Coleman (Amesbury) beat S Lee 19-16. Rink 5: Babs Salter (Wroughton) beat G Chamberlain 22-13. Rink 6: Fizz Mace (N Wilts) beat P Fowkes 22-9.

Score: Wiltshire beat Berkshire 129-81.

v Pen Y Glyn (skips only) Rink 1: Rosemary Fitzpatrick (Chippenham Town) beat P Cross 29-10. Rink 2: Joan Coleman (Amesbury) beat J Fowler 20-10. Rink 3: Babs Salter (Wroughton) beat S Congreave 16-9. Rink 4: Pat Jones (S’marine) beat M Jones 28-8. Rink 5: Sheila Garlick (Devizes) beat M Gwynne 17-16. Rink 6: Lesley Trattles (Wilton) lost to H Mogford 14-17.

Score: Wiltshire beat Pen Y Glyn 124-70.