TWO new names, Ann Roberts-Phare (North Wilts) and Emma Maslen (Avon), will contest the final of the national county ladies two-wood singles championship.

Neither have won a county national title before, although they have both enjoyed a success in the domestic unbadged singles competition.

Both booked their places at county finals day this Saturday at Bradford-on-Avon after fine performances last Friday at Avon in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Roberts-Phare beat Chris Mitchell (Purton) 16-11 in the last eight and in then had to come from behind in her semi before defeating Janice Bull (Amesbury) 14-11, who had previously beaten Helen Ellis (Box) 16-8.

Maslen, using home advantage at Avon, defeated Chippenham Town’s Irene Button in the quarter-finals 18-5 and followed up with a 15-9 semi success over Karen Kirby (Blue Circle), who had eliminated Highworth’s Jo Hicks 15-12.

The following day, Spencer Melksham staged the semi-finals in the U25 singles and final of the U25 pairs, as well as the semi-finals and finals of the ladies senior fours championship.

The domination of the two junior events by former Royal Wootton Bassett duo Lucy and Katy Smith was finally ended.

In the U25 singles, holder Lucy lost to younger sister Katy in round one and she was then beaten in the quarter-finals by Joanna Hicks (Highworth).

In the semis, Hicks beat Maisie Daniell (RWB) 21-12, while Charlotte Daniell (RWB) powered past Louise Rose (Rodbourne Cheney) 21-10.

The big surprise came in the U25 pairs final as the Smith sisters, now playing out of Westlecot, failed to win the title for the first time since 2012 after being beating by Georgina Newman (Avon) and Joanna Hicks (Highworth) 21-17.

And the ladies senior fours competition produced a last-end decider, North Wilts' Janet Hardie, June Coyle, Ann Roberts-Phare and skip Fizz Mace beating holders Box (Carol Grenfell, Jean Collier, Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs) 18-16.

Newman and Hicks and the North Wilts four now go onto represent Wiltshire at the national championships in Leamington next month.

Devizes duo Bev Lilley and Sheila Garlick have also booked a place at the nationals in the ladies senior pairs championship.

They beat holders Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs (Box) 19-18 in the county final.

  • WILTSHIRE Ladies’ superb revival in the South West Counties League continued as they recorded their fourth successive victory.

After losing their opening match to Cornwall, they have bounced back brilliantly to enhance their chances of retaining the title they won last season.

Wiltshire thrashed Devon 144-94 at Ilminster, taking the honours on five of the six rinks to collect 20 of the 22 points on offer.

Delia Godwin (Spencer Melksham) was one of the successful skips, winning 23-18.

Top rink honours went to the foursome led by Alison Fail (Purton), who recorded a massive 39-9 success.

The victory moves Wiltshire to joint top of the SWCL on 77 points alongside Worcestershire, with Somerset third on 60points.

Wiltshire were due to host Dorset at Salisbury this week.

  • COUNTY Ladies finals day will be held at Bradford-on-Avon for the first time for many years this weekend.

It is the home green of Ruth Gerrish, who became Bradford’s first-ever county president at the start of the 2019 campaign.

Five finals will be staged on Saturday, with Debbie Shadwell (Box), Ann Roberts-Phare (North Wilts) and Charlotte Daniell (Royal Wootton Bassett) all bidding for doubles.

Shadwell competes in the fours championship alongside Box colleagues Jane Taylor, Jean Collier and Michele Williams against a rink from Westlecot.

She teams up with Box players Sue Cooke and Alex Jacobs to face Royal Wootton Bassett's Yvette Maxwell-Darkes and sisters Maisie and Charlotte Daniell in the triples.

Roberts-Phare competes in the two and four-wood singles finals and faces Emma Maslen (Avon) and Bev Lilley (Devizes) respectively.

Finally, Charlotte Daniell plays Jo Hicks in the U25 singles final and contests the triples final against Box.