WILTSHIRE roared to the top of the standings after day two of the Inter-County Team Championship at South West Week in Dorset.

The two-time English county champions destroyed Somerset 12-2 in their clash to seize the early initiative with three matches still to play.

Non-playing skipper Dave Bauer's men grabbed a 6-2 advantage after the morning singles session at Dudsbury Golf Club, near Bournemouth, before completing a clean sweep of the afternoon foursomes to record their emphatic victory.

Ali James (Cumberwell Park), Josh Loughrey (Wrag Barn), Ben Amor (Marlborough), Yoshio Takeuchi and Chris Stewart (both Broome Manor) and Robbie Busher (Salisbury & South Wilts) all claimed victory in the singles.

James and Josh Loughrey, Ben Loughrey and Garry Slade (Bowood), Takeuchi and Stewart and Amor and Robbie Busher then dominated the foursomes to close out the triumph.

The inter-county event takes a break today with the 36-hole South West Amateur Championship taking centre stage, Ben Loughrey being the defending champion.

The event was also decide the English County Finals regional qualifier, with Wiltshire hoping to book a place in the final and the right to defend their national crown for a third year in succession.

MORE FROM SOUTH WEST WEEK TOMORROW AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK/SPORT AND WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK/SPORT AND IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES