WILTSHIRE'S bid to regain the inter-county matchplay title at South West Week took a savage blow as they slipped to a heavy defeat to hosts Dorset yesterday.

The two-time national county champions, who led the competition with three of the five matches completed, slipped to third in the standings as they were thrashed 10½-3½ at Dudsbury GC, near Bournemouth.

Wiltshire, who saw their hopes of a third successive national crown ended as Devon won Tuesday's regional qualifier, never recovered from a 6-2 deficit after the morning singles.

Only Ali James (Cumberwell Park) and Ben Amor (Marlborough) managed victories, as Dorset made a mockery of not having won any of their first three matches.

Things got little better in the afternoon foursomes as they succumbed 4½-1½, Chris Stewart (Broome Manor) and Ben Hayward (Cumberwell Park) the only victors.

Non-playing skipper Dave Bauer's men needed a sizeable win against Cornwall in today's final match and Devon to do them a favour against Gloucestershire to have a chance of regaining the crown they last won in 2011.

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