WILTSHIRE Ladies were edged out by a single shot on the last end by leaders Worcestershire at Devizes last Saturday in their fourth Johns Trophy group match of the 2016 campaign.

They were beaten 120-119 in the inter-counties championship west group game to finish in third spot in the Group B table behind Worcestershire and runners-up Devon.

Wiltshire took the honours on only two of the six rinks, drew on another but lost on the other three.

The match was tight throughout the entire 21 ends with the pendulum swinging back and forth several times as it had been three days earlier at Devizes when the two counties met in a South West Counties League match and drew 109-109 on shots and on rinks 3-3.

Wiltshire were a shot down to Worcestershire 29-28 across the board after five ends in the Johns match and five down 61-56 five ends later.

However, a fine revival in the second half of the game saw them move 92-84 up at 15 ends and lead 109-101 after 18 but in the run-in to the finishing line they just failed to hold on.

At 19 ends they were leading on four of the six rinks but their advantage had been cut to 111-105 however, the 20th end across the board proved disastrous as the Moonraker ladies dropped shots on all six rinks to go from six shots up to trail by three 114-111.

They made a valiant effort to pull back the deficit and picked-up eight shots but dropped six to fall one shot short losing 120-119.

The rinks skipped by Alex Jacobs (five shots) and Linda Kingston (three shots) won while Marcia Hartley’s foursome drew 19-19 despite leading 19-14 after 18 ends.

Worcestershire move forward to the Johns Trophy quarter-finals and will play Somerset, winners of the other west groups, seeking a last four slot at the national championships at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

RESULTS

Rink 1: Katy Smith (Royal Wootton Bassett), Viv Baskerville (Chippenham Town), Debbie Shadwell (Box) & Marcia Hartley (Avon) drew with Sue Davies 19-19.

Rink 2: Georgina Newman (Avon), Lesley Trattles (Wilton), Janice Bull (Amesbury) & Sue Ochyra (Devizes) lost to Alison Cartwright 22-26.

Rink 3: Alison Fail (Purton), Kara Little, Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs (all Box) beat Joan Parfitt 22-17.

Rink 4: Chris Mitchell (Purton), Rose Fitzpatrick (Chip T), Babs Salter (Wroughton) & Margaret Annetts (Salisbury) lost to Viv Hall 17-19.

Rink 5: Jean Collier (Box), Maisie Daniell (RWB), Joanna Richman & Linda Kingston (both Highworth) beat Amy Stanton 23-20.

Rink 6: Patricia Murray (RWB), Deanne Davis (Wanborough), Charlie Godwin (RWB) & Carol Grenfell (Box) lost to M Crowe 16-19.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Worcestershire 119-120 and by 5pts to 17pts.

COUNTY selectors have opted for the same team for the Walker Cup west regional final at Winscombe (Somerset) on Sunday.

They have decided to use the same eight players that beat Dorset 38-34 three weeks ago despite only winning on one of the two rinks in the inter-counties double rinks first round tie.

Wiltshire have been drawn against Devon in the semi-final to be staged at Winscombe (10am). The other regional semi-final features Worcestershire and Somerset.

The two winners meet in the afternoon regional final with a place in the Walker Cup last four in the national championships at Royal Leamington Spa in August the prize for the victors.

TEAM

Rink 1: Jean Collier (Box), Katy Smith (Royal Wootton Bassett), Linda Kingston (Highworth) & Carol Grenfell (Box). Rink 2: Alison Fail (Purton), Margaret Annetts (Salisbury), Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs (both Box). Res: Deanne Davis (Wanborough), Georgina Newman (Avon) and Sue Ochyra (Devizes).

NATIONAL singles take centre stage this week and next on the county ladies championship front.

Northern and southern areas first round matches were contested on Monday with no major surprises taking place.

The singles competition really livens up over next few days with the last 16 in the north and south sections being held on Friday with the last eight in each section due to be contested next Monday, July 18.

This will produce four players from the north of the county and four from the south area to compete in the quarter-finals and semi-finals scheduled for Devizes, next Saturday, July 23 with the two players left standing booking a place in the county ladies singles final and earning the right to represent Wiltshire in the event at Leamington in August.