WILTSHIRE Ladies produced a superb battling performance in the Walker Cup to beat Warwickshire by one shot in their opening match in the national inter-county double rinks competition on Sunday.

The match at Welford-on-Avon was a tight and tense affair with rink honours shared 1-1 but with Wiltshire just edging home.

Overall Wiltshire were 14-11 down at five ends, 23-20 down at ten and still losing 32-30 at 15. However they edged in front 35-34 after 18 ends and held on for a one shot victory 42-41 after 21 hard fought ends.

Alex Jacobs’ quartet of Chris Mitchell, Carol Grenfell, Alison Fail and herself were always ahead leading 13-7 at ten ends and winning 25-16.

But In sharp contrast Kathryn Yeoman’s young rink of Katy Smith, Georgina Newman, Marcia Hartley and herself had to battle hard after a very disappointing start and trailing 11-2 after only five ends.

They managed to hold things steady from then onwards and were still nine shots down at 15 ends 20-11 but pulled a shot back to trail 21-13 at 18 and finally lost 25-17. However overall Wiltshire won narrowly 42-41.

In the next round Wiltshire will host Gloucestershire on Sunday June 25 bidding for a place in the west regional final at Victoria BC, Weston-Super-Mare on Sunday, July16.

RESULTS

Wilts v Warwickshire (Walker Cup), Rink 2: Chris Mitchell (Purton), Carol Grenfell (Box), Alison Fail (Purton) and Alex Jacobs (Box) won 25-16. Rink 3: Katy Smith (Royal Wootton Bassett), Georgina Newman and Marcia Hartley (both Avon) and Kathryn Yeoman (Box) lost 17-25.

Score: Wiltshire beat Warwickshire 42-41.

ON SATURDAY, Devizes will host Wiltshire ladies’ opening match in the top inter-county championship event Johns Trophy.

The county face neighbours Dorset in their first game, seeking top spot in their west group of four teams.

In the past few seasons they have missed-out on a place in the regional final from a five team group to old rivals Devon, Johns Trophy winners in 2013 and runners-up in 2014.

After Devon, Wiltshire play Cornwall at home at Tiverton West End on June 24 and face Somerset away at Clevedon on July 8.

Only the group winner progresses to the west final (quarter-final) against the other west group winner on July 15 at a venue to be announced.

The winner secures a place at Royal Leamington Spa for semis and final on the opening day of the national finals on August 5.