WILTSHIRE ladies finally ended a dismal run of six successive defeats in the Johns Trophy with a much improved performance last Saturday in their second group match of the 2014 campaign.

A side showing seven changes to the team that were beaten 130-101 three weeks ago in the Johns Trophy by Cornwall turned up trumps at Devizes with a very impressive 142-90 win over Gloucestershire.

It was Wiltshire’s first inter-county championship win in the group stages of the Johns Trophy for over two years and fully justified the selectors’ decision to ring the changes and bring in younger talent.

The introduction of four youngsters from the Wiltshire Amy Rose under 31 side - Wootton Bassett trio of Charlie Harding, Lucy and Katy Smith plus Joanna Richman (Highworth) - as well as Purton’s Julie Jones certainly boosted the squad.

All five of them had games to remember and received their Wiltshire colts badges at the end of the match.

Wiltshire made a good start to the game and had built up a useful 65-49 lead across the board at the halfway point.

However, in the second-half they powered away to extend the advantage from 16 shots to a comprehensive 52-shot success.

Wiltshire Ladies took the honours on four of the six greens with Linda Kingston (Highworth) and Alex Jacobs (Box) leading their rinks to big 22 and 21-shot wins respectively, while skips Delia Godwin and Carol Grenfell both won by seven shots each.

However, skip Grenfell (Box) had to pull-out of her match after only six ends with a leg injury (cartilage) and is still on crutches.

Sue Ochyra moved up from three to skip the rink with Wendy Gaisford (Devizes) coming off the bench to substitute at three.

With wins on four rinks out of six, Wiltshire collected eight points as well as 10 for the win overall to bag 18 of the 22 points on offer.

However, despite their win over bottom club Gloucestershire they still only stand in third place after two games on 20 points, two behind Cornwall and 20 points behind leaders Devon who have won both of their matches so far.

For Wiltshire to progress to the quarter-finals they will need to cause a big shock and upset the formbook as they have to face warm favourites Devon away in their final group match at Culm Vale (Cullompton) next Saturday, July 5 (2pm).

Elsewhere Cornwall play Gloucestershire.

RESULTS
Rink 1: Lucy Smith (Wootton Bassett), Jean Collier (Box), Julie Jones (Purton) & Delia Godwin (Spencer Melksham) beat Kay Gent 25-18. Rink 2: Viv Baskerville (Chippenham Town), Katy Smith (WB), Kim Smith (Warminster) & Fizz Mace (North Wilts) lost to Linsay Collin 22-24. Rink 3: Debbie Shadwell (Box), June Corbett (Town Gardens), Sue Ochyra (Devizes) & Carol Grenfell (sub Wendy Gaisford, Devizes, after six ends owing to injury) beat Sue Osborne 20-13. Rink 4: Alison Fail (Purton), Margaret Annetts (Salisbury), Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs (both Box) beat Rachel Hughes 31-10. Rink 5: Chris Mitchell (Purton), Marcia Hartley (Avon), Maureen Woolley & Janet Willis (Stratton Churchway) lost to Joy Sheward 15-18. Rink 6: Rose Ellis (Amesbury), Charlie Harding (WB), Joanna Richman & Linda Kingston (both Highworth) beat Lyn Hamer 29-7.

Score: Wiltshire beat Gloucestershire 142 (18pts) - 90 (4pts).

  • HOWEVER, the following day Wiltshire disappointingly lost out in the opening round of the Walker Cup to Somerset at Yeovil.

They managed to share the rink honours one-all in the Women’s National County Top Two Fours competition with Alex Jacobs four producing a 23-16 victory.

However, despite only trailing by two shots 12-10 at 15 ends, Fizz Mace’s rink collapsed over the next six and lost their game 27-11 resulting in Wiltshire suffering an overall 43-34 loss.

Somerset progress to the regional final at Cotswold on July 13.

RESULTS Rink 1: Debbie Shadwell, June Corbett, Sue Ochyra & Fizz Mace lost to Stephanie Branfield 11-27. Rink 2: Alison Fail, Margaret Annetts, Sue Cooke & Alex Jacobs beat Jill Young 23-16.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Somerset 34-43.

  • WILTSHIRE Ladies have been victorious in their last two county matches played at home at Amesbury and Pewsey Vale.

Under president of the day Mary Buckle they edged home in their South West Counties League match defeating Somerset 126-119.

They took the honours on three rinks and drew on another at Amesbury but lost heavily on the other two to cut their winning margin to just seven shots.

Alex Jacobs’ rink was top dog with a massive 33-9 success.

While in the friendly match played at Pewsey, Wiltshire edged home against Berkshire by four shots despite only winning on two of the five rinks.

RESULTS v Somerset Rink 1: Alex Jacobs beat Margaret Dyer 33-9. Rink 2: Fizz Mace drew with Lyn Palmer 17-17. Rink 3: Janet Willis lost to Margaret Southey 17-27. Rink 4: Sandra Bartlett lost to Jenny Bell 17-28. Rink 5: Joan Coleman beat Jill Price 20-19. Rink 6: Carol Grenfell beat Joan Walmsley 22-19.

Score: Wiltshire beat Somerset 126 (17pts) - 119 (5pts).

v Berkshire Rink 1: Georgena Coomber lost to Mary Parkinson 15-22. Rink 2: Jo Dunford lost to Joy Holmes 20-23. Rink 3: Sue Burgess lost to Jean Lyons-Hill 16-18. Rink 4: Sue Baker beat Helen Simpson 19-12. Rink 5: Mary Buckle beat S Young 24-15.

Score: Wiltshire beat Berkshire 94-90.

  • THE COUNTY Ladies national pairs competition has been in full swing over the past seven days both in the north and south sections with several shocks already recorded.

The second round was due to be played last night with the third round, last eight in both the north and south sections scheduled for next Monday, June 30 to leave the pairs competition at the quarter-final stage for July 12 at Bradford-on-Avon.