DESPITE a tremendous recovery, Wiltshire women were beaten in their opening inter-county championship match of the season by three shots by Devon at Devizes last Saturday.

Wiltshire made a disastrous start to their first west group match in the Johns Trophy and were 48-16 down across the board after only five ends.

However, they fought back to cut the gap to 70-63 at halfway but had slipped back again to trail 108-89 at 15 ends and 122-107 at 18.

They dug deep again but their superb rally just fell short by three shots as they went down to a powerful Devon side 129-126.

Wiltshire managed to take the honours on two rinks and draw on another but lost on the other three. But despite the closeness of the final scoreline they only took five of the 22 points on offer.

Alex Jacobs’ rink, despite 9-5 down at five ends, hit back to roar to an 18-shot success winning 33-15. Devizes’ Sue Ochyra skipped the other victorious quartet winning by six shots despite trailing 10-2 at five ends.

In a tight match throughout, Linda Kingston’s four had to settle for a 19-19 draw, dropping a shot on the last end.

However, there were double-figured losses for the two rinks skipped by Delia Godwin and Janet Willis, while Janice Rowe lost by five shots.

In the other game in Wiltshire’s group Herefordshire lost at home to Dorset 134-95.

Wiltshire are drawn in a five counties west group in the Johns Trophy and face Dorset at West Moors in their next match on June 20.

Then they meet Herefordshire at home at Devizes on June 27 and finish their group games with an away trip to Worcestershire on July 4.

Only the group winner progresses to the quarter-finals (last eight).

RESULTS

Rink 1: Lucy Smith (Wootton Bassett), Ann Hindley (Wilton), Julie Jones (Purton) & Delia Godwin (Spencer Melksham) lost to Sharon Parnell 13-25. Rink 2: Jenny Couch, Eileen Hawker (both SM), Joanna Richman & Linda Kingston (both Highworth) drew with Mo Thomas 19-19. Rink 3: Alison Fail (Purton), Margaret Annetts (Salisbury), Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs (Box) beat Joan Martin 33-15. Rink 4: Katy Smith (WB), Kathryn Holmes (Box), Janice Bull (Amesbury) & Sue Ochyra (Devizes) beat Liz Smerdon 23-17. Rink 5: Wendy Anderson (Stratton Churchway), Rose Ellis (Ames), Marcia Hartley (Avon) & Janice Rowe (Ames) lost to Julia Barnes 21-26. Rink 6: Chris Mitchell (Purton), Bev Lilley (Dev), Mo Woolley (Alderbury) & Janet Willis (SC) lost to Sue Evans 17-27.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Devon 126 (5pts) - 129 (17pts).

THE LAST 16 in the county ladies national triples championship were played at various venues around the county last Friday.

Four combinations in the north section and four in the south all battled their way through to the county triples quarter-finals and semi-finals to be played at Purton (10.15am) on Saturday (June 6).

In the north, a triple from Wootton Bassett led by Pat Edmonds, as well as triples from Stratton Churchway, Wanborough and Supermarine all qualified for Purton.

Two triples teams from Devizes led by Mary Jones and Sue Ochyra, one from Box skipped by Carol Grenfell and the other from Wilton were also successful.

The semi-final winners will book a place in the county finals at Devizes on July 25 and also earn the right to represent Wiltshire at the National Championships to be held at Bowls England headquarters at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

RESULTS

Last 16, North: Pat Edmonds (Wootton Bassett) beat Paola Meekins (Malmesbury); Janet Willis (Stratton Churchway) beat Bev Williamson (WB); Pat Jones (Supermarine) beat Mavis Morris (SC); Deanne Davis (Wanborough) beat Linda Kingston (Highworth).

South: Mary Jones (Devizes) beat Mary Parker-Smith (Wilton) 21-7; Sue Ochyra (Dev) beat Cathy Hill (Warminster) 22-15; Carol Grenfell (Box) beat Alex Jacobs (Box) 15-14; Lesley Trattles (Wilton) beat Margaret Annetts (Salisbury).

DRAW

Quarter-finals at Purton, Saturday June 6 (10.15am): Karen Funnell, Jean Collier & Carol Grenfell (Box) v Rose Merritt, Patricia Reeves & Sue Ochyra (Devizes); Julia Hunt, Jean Crepaz & Deanne Davis (Wanborough) v Marilyn Kilburn, Glenice Truman & Pat Jones (Supermarine); Sue Gurd, Ann Hindley & Lesley Trattles (Wilton) v Marie Greenwood, Josie Mulligan & Mary Jones (Dev); Ginny Nash, Maureen Rogers & Pat Edmonds (Wootton Bassett) v Lil Dalrymple, Wendy Anderson & Janet Willis (Stratton Churchway).

Semi-finals: to be played Saturday afternoon.

THE POOR run of results for Bowls Wiltshire Ladies in county friendly matches in May continued.

After losing narrowly by three shots to West Glamorgan at Wroughton they were beaten heavily by Warwickshire at Bidford-on-Avon and last week went down by 20 shots to Oxfordshire at Stratton Churchway.

In both matches Wiltshire only registered one winning rink out of six.

Ladies county president Joyce Little (Devizes) will be seeking better fortunes and her first friendly victory of the season when she leads the county side against Berkshire on Tuesday, June 16 at Shrivenham.

RESULTS (skips only) v Warwickshire, Rink 1: Sandra Bartlett lost to S Hornsby 11-30. Rink 2: Marcia Cottle lost to J Corn 8-25. Rink 3: Trish Jarrett beat E Taylor 23-16. Rink 4: Sheila Garlick lost to J Cook 12-38. Rink 5: Janice Rowe lost to C Cooke 12-19. Rink 6: Margaret Annetts lost to M Edwards 14-19.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Warwickshire 80-147.

v Oxfordshire, Rink 1: Mo Woolley lost to S Rogers 14-20. Rink 2: Janet Willis beat A Ives 36-11. Rink 3: Trish Jarrett lost to C Penson 13-23. Rink 4: Margaret Annetts lost to W Cross 16-25. Rink 5: Babs Salter lost to P Ostler 15-29. Rink 6: Fizz Mace lost to J Berry 16-22.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Oxfordshire 110-130.