BOX quartet Carol Grenfell, Kathryn Yeoman, Sue Cooke and skip Alex Jacobs and a four from Supermarine, led by Susan Griffiths, have become the first players in the county to book a place at the Ladies National Championships at Royal Leamington Spa at the beginning of August.

They were both victorious in the quarter and semi-finals of the Wiltshire ladies national fours at Amesbury last Saturday and will meet on county ladies championship finals day at Avon (Melksham) on July 28.

More importantly, the two rinks will travel to Leamington to represent Wiltshire in the national championships.

It is the 12th time since the turn of the century that Box have reached the county ladies fours final, but only the second in Supermarine’s brief history as a mixed club after welcoming Wills to their fold in 2002.

From an initial entry of 37 teams, eight fours combinations battled their way through to the latter stages of the county national fours held at Amesbury last weekend.

In the top half of the quarter-final draw, Jacob’s four from Box beat Wroughton 20-13 in a repeat of last season’s final to set up a meeting with Spencer Melksham, who had edged home 16-15 against Devizes.

In the bottom half of the quarter-final draw, Highworth beat Stratton Churchway 24-22, while surprise package Supermarine beat a more experienced Amesbury side 22-13.

Both semi-finals were very one-sided affairs. Holders Box raced into a 14-0 lead against Spencer Melksham after only five ends and never looked back to claim a 27-5 success after only 14 ends were played.

The other semi saw Supermarine lead Highworth 15-7 after 10 ends and 26-7 at 15, before finally winning 31-15.

  • BOX Bowls Club will host the quarter and semi-finals of the county national triples championship this Saturday.

Two places at the ladies national championships at Royal Leamington Spa are the prizes on offer as well as a place in the county ladies triples final in late July at Avon.

Four trios from the north section, including Chippenham Town’s Jan Boden, Viv Baskerville and Barbara Land, as well as Royal Wootton Bassett’s Barbara Twine, Ginny Nash and Patricia Murray, and the defending national triple’s 2017 winners Purton – Chris Mitchell, Julie Jones and Alison Fail – are through to the last eight.

They are joined by four teams from the southern section, headed by hosts Box (Debbie Shadwell, Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs), Wilton and Bradford-on-Avon (Sue Walters, Peggy Akerman and Ruth Gerrish).

The fourth side was due to be determined on Wednesday as the Spencer Melksham (Delia Godwin) and Devizes (Marguerite Alexander) last 16 match on Monday was washed out.

All the teams have battled their way through to the last eight at Box this weekend.

  • COUNTY Ladies representative teams were beaten for the first time this season, going down heavily in a friendly match at Highworth last Thursday.

They lost by 44 shots as they crashed 91-135 to Warwickshire.

Wiltshire won on one of the six rinks courtesy of Pewsey’s Trish Jarrett. Her quartet won 23-12 and Fizz Mace’s (North Wilts) four drew 16-16.

Wiltshire made a good start and led 33-18 after five ends overall, but were then pegged back to trail 50-47 after 10.

However, they then fell away badly to suffer a big loss. They trailed 93-65 at 15 ends, 115-82 at 18 and finally lost 135-91.