NORTH Wilts ladies march on in the Yetton Trophy, the top women’s national inter-club competition which they won in the 2007/08 season.

After first and second round wins over Christie Miller, Melksham (87-69) and Nailsea (Somerset) 87-57 respectively the Chippenham-based club came from behind last Saturday with a strong second-half performance to win the third round tie against local rivals Clarrie Dunbar by 16 shots.

North Wilts ladies ran-out 86-70 victors although they were 38-32 down at ten ends across the board and shared rink honours two-all.

After a slow start North Wilts trailed Clarrie Dunbar 20-15 at five ends and 39-32 at ten but had turned things around at 15 to lead 56-53.

They had increased that advantage to a healthy 20 shots at 18 moving 79-59 ahead and finally won the local derby 86-70.

Despite losing on the Irene Button home rink by 12 shots and Alex Jacobs’ rink at Dunbar by eight shots North Wilts still triumphed.

This was thanks mainly to the massive 38-9 home win from Fizz Mace’s foursome while Sue Cooke’s four away won by seven shots.

In the next round (last 32) of the Yetton Trophy on January 16, 2016, North Wilts will face Taunton Deane, who beat Ilminster comfortably 94-66 in their round three match last weekend.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 2: Jean Pascoe, Barbara Shepheard, Ann Greenland & Irene Button lost to Marcia Hartley 13-25. Rink 3: Ann White, Wendy Ivory, May Brand & Fizz Mace beat Ailsa Midwinter 38-9.

Away - Rink 2: Norma Rowden, Karen Funnell, Jean Collier & Sue Cooke beat Sue Bird 20-13. Rink 3: Ann Roberts-Phare, Viv Baskerville, Jane Taylor & Alex Jacobs lost to Teresa King 15-23.

Score: North Wilts beat Clarrie Dunbar 86-70.

TWO days earlier North Wilts Ladies B team had recorded a fine second round victory over Somerset side Clevedon in the Mason Trophy, national Over 60s double rinks.

North Wilts led across the board throughout. They were 37-24 up at 15 ends but pulled back to a nervous 38-35 at 18 but pulled clear again to win by eight shots 48-40.

The away rink of Norma Rowden, Jane Taylor, Irene Button and skip Sue Cooke led for most of the way but after being 16-8 up at 13 ends had to settle for a 19-19 draw against Margaret Dyer.

At Westcroft the home rink of Ann Robers-Phare, Janet Hardie, Jean Collier and Fizz Mace (skip) raced 21-5 up at 13 ends but were pulled right back to 22-21 at 19 before finishing with a five to win 29-21 against Clevedon skip Lyn Palmer.

North Wilts B progress to the third round in the Mason Trophy and will now meet Thornbury in a match to be played by December 18.

In other national team competitions North Wilts ladies are still running in the Vivienne Trophy.

They were losing quarter-finalists last season and two weeks ago beat West Berks (Newbury) 66-60 to book a second round tie against Bristol on December 3. The revamped competition this season has switched from four rinks to triples - two triples home and two away.

The mixed teams at North Wilts are still running in the two main national mixed competitions, Egham Trophy and Top Club.

Their next round opponents in both are Clarrie Dunbar this Sunday November 29 and by December 6 respectively in Egham and Top Club.

While in the men’s national team competitions the O60s double rinks side who edged home on an extra end in the last round were due to face Thornbury in round three, this week.

North Wilts men who had a bye in the first round matches made a poor start as they opened their 2015/16 Wessex League campaign in the central section of the competition.

They crashed to a heavy 96-55 defeat at the hands of Purnell and only took the honours on one of the four rinks to collect a meagre two of the 16 points that were on offer.

Richard Gainey’s rink edged home on the last end away in Paulton for a 19-18 success while Alan Small’s home rink lost by three shots, but the other two rinks suffered heavy losses.

RESULTS (skips only)

Home - Rink 1: Maurice Byrom lost to H Lorimer 14-30. Rink 2: Alan Small lost to R Richards 14-17.

Away - Rink 1: Dave Williams lost to R Gay 8-31. Rink 2: Richard Gainey beat J Matthews 19-18.

Score: North Wilts lost to Purnell 55-96 and by 2pts to 14pts.

ROUND TWO RESULTS: Bristol 75 (12pts) Clarrie Dunbar 72 (4pts); Purnell 96 (14pts) North Wilts 55 (2pts); Nailsea 90 (14pts) Christie Miller 67 (2pts). Thornbury had a bye.