WILTSHIRE Ladies continued their excellent start to the outdoor campaign with another quality victory.

They triumphed narrowly against Cornwall in their opening South West Counties League match played at the neutral venue of Tiverton West End, south Devon.

Despite only winning on two of the six rinks contested and drawing on another, Wiltshire came out on top 120-117.

The Moonrakers led 30-28 across the board after five ends but Cornwall hit back to edge in front 56-53 at 10 ends and extended their narrow advantage to 84-79 at 15 ends.

Back came Wiltshire, though, to tie matters at 100-100 after 18 ends and set up a nail-biting finish.

There was still nothing between the two overall as they were tied at 117-117 with only one of the six rinks to complete their 21 ends.

The rink of June Corbett, Wendy Anderson, Janice Bull and Wroughton’s Bab Salter (skip) were still on the green and needed a single to ensure a Wiltshire overall victory or a three to pip Amesbury’s Janice Rowe and her quartet for top Wiltshire honours.

Salter’s foursome held their nerve to achieve both targets with a three on the last end to give the Moonrakers the victory and pip Rowe for the top rink spot 28-15 to 24-12.

The rink skipped by Purton’s national triples champion Alison Fail led 18-12 after 17 ends but then dropped a three and three singles on the last four ends to draw 18-18.

Wiltshire’s next SWCL match is a home fixture against Somerset at Salisbury on Wednesday, June 13.

  • THIS season, Wiltshire Ladies will play again in a four county group in the West section A of the Johns Trophy, inter-county championship.

They will face both Dorset and Cornwall away before ending the group stages with a home match against Somerset at Devizes on July 7.

Only the group winner will then progress to the quarter-finals.

Wiltshire start by travelling over the border against neighbours Dorset at Sherborne on June 2.

They follow this with another away match against Cornwall at the neutral venue of Tiverton West End on June 23.

The Moonrakers end their group matches with a home game against Somerset at Devizes on July 7.

The selection committee have named a 24-player team with five reserves drawn from 16 clubs around Wiltshire for the match against Dorset.

Top club in the representation stakes are Box with five players chosen.

Next best are Purton with three, plus a trio from Highworth.

Also from the readership area are Avon (Melksham), with two players chosen, while Devizes, Royal Wootton Bassett, Chippenham Town, Warminster and Spencer Melksham all have one representation.