WINNERS a decade ago and beaten finalists last season, North Wilts ladies bid to reach the last eight in the Yetton Trophy - the main ladies indoor inter-club team championship event - this weekend.

They face surprise package Rivermead IBC (Reading Leisure Centre) in the fifth round on Saturday, with two rinks at home and two away.

To reach round five, North Wilts have beaten Clarrie Dunbar 81-78 and local rivals Christie Miller 81-76. Then in round three, they thumped Clevedon (Somerset) 98-64 and followed it up in December with a comprehensive 76-44 win over MidGlos.

Round five is a new experience for opponents Rivermead this season.

They opened with bye and then beat Swindon Manor 96-60 and Oxford City and County 79-70. In round four, they bagged a big scalp by beating Desborough (Maidenhead) narrowly 76-73.

It will therefore be a tough match but should North Wilts be successful, they would progress to the quarter-finals and meet either Torquay United or St Andrews (Weston-Super-Mare) on January 20.

  • ALL of the other national team competitions re-commence within the next fortnight, including the mixed Top Club and Egham Trophy competitions, plus the ladies O60s double rinks for the Mason Trophy, which will see North Wilts and Christie Miller clash in the third round.
  • WILTSHIRE men, who have reached the quarter-finals in the inter-county championship for the Liberty Trophy, make two changes to the side to play Devon away at Isca IBC, on January 13.

A request for a later start time as most of the side will have more than 100 miles to travel to Exeter has been turned down by the hosts.

Despite wins over Oxfordshire (127-105) and Worcestershire (138-65), the rink skipped by Mike Titcombe shows two changes, with Westlecot duo Barry Sictorness and Chris Cheesley coming into the side in place of James Richman and Mike Richards.

  • AFTER the festive break, Wiltshire men re-commence their schedule of county friendly fixtures under the leadership of 2017/18 county men’s president Ashley Ponting (North Wilts).

They play Somerset CIBA at home in Chippenham at North Wilts on January 7.