WILTSHIRE Ladies and Men’s teams both made fine starts to their 2019 campaign last weekend, with victories in their opening inter-county championship group matches.

County ladies, runners-up in the Johns Trophy final last season to Surrey, began with a 16-shots west group win over Gloucestershire as they ran-out as 121-105 winners at home at Devizes.

Away at Victoria BC, Weston-Super-Mare county men were involved in an extremely tight finish in the Middleton Cup – despite originally holding a 14 shot lead to edge home by a shot against Somerset in a 127-126 Cup success.

County ladies took the honours on three rinks, drew on another and lost on two against Gloucestershire to take 17 of the 22 points on offer.

Top of the scoring charts was the Alison Fail rink that roared to a 25-9 win. Next best was the rink skipped by Box’s Alex Jacobs, who won by 11 shots in a 25-14 success.

The final win came on another rink skipped by a Box player, namely Kathryn Yeoman who edged home 21-19.

The Sue Bird (Warminster) foursome led 15-11 at 17 ends, but were pulled back and had to settle at 21 ends for a 16-all draw.

Wiltshire ladies made a commanding start and led 33-20 overall after five ends and 65-31 after 10. They were pulled back a little by visitors Gloucestershire but still held a 95-74 advantage at 15 ends, 106-86 at 18 and after leading throughout finally won 121-105.

Wiltshire’s next group match is away to Warwickshire at Stratford-on-Avon on June 22.

Warwickshire thumped Dorset 127-98 in their opening group game which was hosted locally by Chippenham Town BC at Hardenhuish Park.

Elsewhere, eight partnerships have reached the quarter finals of the Ladies County Pairs Championship.

Box, Spencer Melksham, Avon and Trowbridge Westbourne will contest the southern quarters on Saturday.

While Chippenham Town, Stratton Churchway, Westlecot and Highworth will take part in the northern group.