NORTH WILTS Ladies made the perfect start in their bid to regain the Yetton Trophy that they last won four years ago.

They beat Clevedon by 14 shots in their first round national inter-club championship match as they ran-out 77-63 victors.

Across the board they were only 20-18 up at five ends but had moved 40-27 clear at 10 ends and led 53-39 at 15.

However, Clevedon hit back to cut the gap to only 61-56 at 18 ends, but North Wilts produced a final flurry to win 77-63.

The foundations for victory were built on two fine performances by the away rinks skipped by Sue Cooke and Jean Collier who together produced a plus 11 shots return.

Cooke led for practically the whole of her match but was tied 13-13 at 16 ends but then collected a five on the 17th end and a four on the 19th to finally win by eight shots.

Collier’s four were cruising as they led 14-4 at 14 ends but then had to survive a Clevedon fightback only scoring a two on the 19th end to hang on for a three shot win.

At home at North Wilts Fizz Mace was involved in a tight match with England junior international Stephanie Branfield. Her rink dropped a five on the 16th end and this proved decisive as they lost by four shots including conceding a two on the last end.

Janet Hardie’s rink led 14-8 at ten ends but lost the next seven to go 14-16 down at 17 ends. But they staged a fine fightback to win the last four collecting nine shots and finally win by seven shots.

North Wilts now face Bristol in the second round on November 29.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 2: Evelyn Tape, Jan Tombs, Kath Lloyd & Fizz Mace lost to Steph Branfield 15-19. Rink 3: Molly Manning, May Brand, Barbara Shepheard & Janet Hardie beat Margaret Dyer 23-16.

Away - Rink 1: Ann Roberts-Phare, Shirley Palfrey, Viv Baskerville & Jean Collier beat Lois Greeves 16-13. Rink 2: Norma Rowden, Isabel Dawson, Irene Button & Sue Cooke beat Jacqui Branfield 23-15.

Score: North Wilts beat Clevedon 77-63.

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