NORTH WILTS ladies are enjoying a successful run in this season’ s Mason Trophy (Over 60s women’s double rinks) and have reached the fifth round (last 16) of the competition.

They booked their place in round five with a comfortable 19-shot victory over Somerset side Taunton Deane last Friday as they ran out 41-22 winners, taking the accolades on both rinks.

Alex Jacobs' quartet at home at Westcroft were in total control, with Molly Manning, Ann Roberts-Phare, Sue Cooke and Jacobs finally pulling away to a decisive and comfortable 28-12 victory.

The away foursome of Margaret Cooke, Jane Taylor, Irene Button and Jean Collier was involved in a much tighter game in Taunton Deane and were tied 4-4 after five ends but led by a shot 7-6 after 10 hard-fought ends.

They fell behind 9-10 after 15 ends but a late surge saw them score four shots and not concede in the last three ends to win 13-10 at 18 ends.

Across the board though thanks to Jacobs’ rink North Wilts led throughout the match. They were up 11-8 after five ends, 22-13 at 10, 31-19 at 15 and 41-22 at the finish at 18 ends.

In the last 16 of the Mason Trophy on March 2, North Wilts will meet old adversaries Thornbury, beaten Mason Trophy semi-finalists three times in the past nine years, using the same format of one rink home and one rink away.

In the past 10 seasons or so the South Gloucestershire side have halted regularly North Wilts progress in the Mason Trophy, O60s double rinks.

North Wilts will be hoping to lay that jinx in the last 16 match with Thornbury on Friday March 2 and progress to the quarter-finals.

RESULT

North Wilts v Taunton Deane (Mason Trophy) Home: Molly Manning, Ann Roberts-Phare, Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs beat Di Routley 28-12. Away: Margaret Cooke, Jane Taylor, Irene Button & Jean Collier beat Sue Evans 13-10.

Score: North Wilts beat Taunton Deane 41-22.

JACOBS is still running in the main national singles championship events in Area 16 which covers indoor rinks sited in the counties of Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Worcestershire, Bristol, Hereford and Wiltshire except for the two Swindon indoor rinks.

She is due to play Teresa King (Clarrie Dunbar) in the area final after beating Sheila Short (Clevedon) 21-12 in the semi-finals.

She faces King at Swindon Westlecot, March 9 (6.30pm) with the winner progressing to the national singles finals and last 16 at Melton & District (Leics) on March 30-31.

Jacobs, twice a winner of the national senior outdoor singles crown, a couple of years ago has also qualified for the O60s Area 16 indoors singles final and will face either Julie Morgan or Pamela Harris, both from the Malvern Hills club in the area final.

North Wilts Fizz Mace and her partner face Laura Holden and Stefanie Branfield in the Area 16 national pairs final which has to be arranged.

Meanwhile Jacobs, Sue Cooke and Jean Collier have to meet Jeanette Wheeler and her Clarrie Dunbar trio in the Area 16 Over 50s triples semi-finals by this coming Sunday.