BOX Ladies won the Wiltshire Women’s top team event for the third successive year.

However, they were pushed hard by a spirited Chippenham Town side in the final at Devizes before clinching the Top Ten title again by a 3-1 margin.

Box took the honours in the pairs, triples and fours disciplines and only lost out in the singles.

The victory again emphasised the club’s considerable strength in depth in county championships events and competitions.

Janet Hardie went down in the singles 21-4 to Irene Button and with Chippenham keeping the other three matches close to halfway and leading in the triples Box were under pressure with a 17-shot difference from the singles to make-up.

However, in the second half of the game they overturned the triples deficit and powered away in the fours and pairs to seal what was a convincing 3-1 win at the end.

The victory was an ideal boost ahead of Box flying the flag for Wiltshire again in the final stages of the Top Club Competition, in which they finished third last year, at Royal Leamington Spa this weekend.

For the Leamington quarter-finals Box make one change to the side that beat Chippenham Town with Judy Selbie coming in to replace Joan Warren while Joyce Funnell, Sandra Richardson and Ruby Houston are named as reserves.

Box have draw Wigton (Cumbria) in their first match in the last eight on Saturday (2.30pm) at Leamington.

RESULTS

Singles: Janet Hardie lost to Irene Button 4-21.

Pairs: Karen Funnell & Alex Jacobs beat Dawn Toms & Barbara Land 22-14.

Triples: Lolly Braddon, Jean Collier & Sue Cook beat Christine Lucas, Val Lucas & Barbara Shepheard 20-11.

Fours: Molly Manning, Joan Warren, Sue Dix & Carol Grenfell beat Rosie Caddick, Pat Simmonds, Jan Boden & Yvonne Savin 23-12.

Score: Box beat Chippenham Town 3-1 and on shots 69-58.

TOP CLUB DRAW: Box (Wilts) v Wigton (Cumbria); March Town (Cambs) v Didcot (Berks); Croydon (Surrey) v Broadway (Worcs); Forest Oaks Ladies (Notts) v Wellingborough (Northants). The semi-finals and final will be held on Sunday from 9.30am.

PICTURES FROM THE FINAL AND MORE BOWLS NEWS IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES