WILTSHIRE men’s and women’s representative sides endured mixed fortunes in their county friendly matches played indoors last weekend at North Wilts IBC, Chippenham.

The men beat Devon in a five-rink match by three shots, running out 102-99 winners on Sunday, but the previous day - despite leading at halfway - the ladies lost to Hampshire 116-103 in a six rinks triples match.

For the men, Martin Salter’s quartet won 28-16 while the all-North Wilts foursome skipped by Alan Small notched a five on end 20 to finish as 22-15 victors.

Steve Hockings' side play their third friendly match of the season at Five Rivers, Salisbury on Saturday.

The ladies lost four of the six triples with their only two victories coming from Ann Roberts-Phare’s trio (11 shots) and Bev Lilley’s triple by eight shots.

Ladies next friendlies game under the stewardship of county president Fizz Mace (North Wilts) is at home at Chippenham against Somerset on Wednesday, November 15 (1.30pm).

RESULTS Wiltshire Men v Devon (at North Wilts), Rink 2: Graham Richards (Swindon Manor), Derek Elkins, Steve Hocking (both Christie Miller) & Maurice Byron (North Wilts) lost to M Birch 20-22. Rink 3: Gerry Tinson (NW), Keith Baker (Westlecot), Bob George & Ashley Ponting (both NW) lost to M Powell 14-25. Rink 4: Richard Davidge, Miles Pickering, Clive Swift & Richard Gainey (all NW) lost to A Thomas 18-21. Rink 5: Dave Edmonds, Andy Bradfield (both NW), Dave Richards (Christie Miller) & Martin Salter (West) beat S Dommett 28-16. Rink 6: Martin Clark (NW), Wayne Clarke (SM), Del Smith & Alan Small (both NW) beat J Berry 22-15.

Score: Wiltshire beat Devon 102-99.

Wiltshire Ladies v Hampshire (at North Wilts), Rink 1: Jean Collier lost to Jenny McAusland 19-29. Rink 2: Bev Lilley beat Valerie Myett 21-13. Rink 3: Lyn Brown lost to Sylvia Mould 18-21. Rink 4: Joan Coleman lost to Pam Gilmour 12-28. Rink 5: Ann Roberts-Phare beat Patti Tice 22-11. Rink 6: Janice Rowe lost to Sheila Stone 11-14.

Score: Wiltshire Ladies lost to Hampshire 103-116.

TOP national championship team events for both men and women commence on Saturday and feature the first local derby of the new indoor campaign.

In the Denny Cup, men’s national inter-club championship, Chippenham-based North Wilts lock horns with neighbours Christie Miller, Melksham.

Meanwhile the Yetton Trophy, women’s national inter-club championship also starts on Saturday.

However, North Wilts who lifted the Yetton Trophy, top ladies team event in Spring 2008, have been awarded a first round bye and do not enter the fray until the second round against Thornbury on November 5.

The North Wilts and Christie Miller Denny Cup clash is the first of two local derbies between the two men’s sides this season as they are due to meet each other again in eight week’s time in the Wessex League.

North Wilts will be seeking revenge over Christie Miller on Saturday as they lost heavily to the Melksham side when the two sides faced each other in January this year in the Wessex League.

The selected teams for the first local derby of the 2016/17 season are.

TEAMS

North Wilts v Christie Miller Home - Rink 1: Richard McComb, Richard Jennings, Ashley Ponting and Alan Small. Rink 2: Gerry Tinson, Alan Greenland, Roger Button and Rich Gainey. Away - Rink 1: Bob George, Andy Bradfield, Trevor Cooke and Maurice Byron. Rink 2: Alan Stell, Miles Pickering, Dave Williams and Mal Curtis.

NORTH Wilts also start out in their bid for glory in the national mixed team competitions on Sunday They face Nailsea at home (10am) in a first round Top Club tie.

The competition features mixed teams competing in four disciplines - two wood singles, mixed pairs, mixed triples and mixed fours.

A total of 16 points are up for grabs - two points each in the men’s and ladies’ two wood singles but four points each in the mixed pairs, triples and fours.

Aggregate shots scored will only come into play if the two teams are tied on eight points each after all four disciplines have been played.

Should North Wilts be victorious against Nailsea in this first round match on Sunday they would have a home tie again in the second round on November 6 against either Clevedon or Clarrie Dunbar.

Nailsea also provide the opposition for North Wilts in the other national mixed team event for the Egham Trophy, mixed inter-club championship.

They face the North Somerset side in the four rink match - two rinks home and two away - on Sunday, October 30.

TOP CLUB TEAM

North Wilts v Nailsea, Sunday October 23 (10am) Two Wood Singles - Ladies: Jean Collier; Men: Andy Bradfield. Mixed Pairs: Alan Stell & Alex Jacobs. Mixed Triples: Bob George, Roger Button & Sue Cooke. Mixed Fours: Irene Button, Jane Taylor, Maurice Byron & Dave Williams.