WILTSHIRE LADIES will be hoping for better fortunes this year in the Johns Trophy, the national inter-county championship, after going out in the group stages last season.

They begin the build-up to the 2014 competition, which starts on May 31 against Cornwall, with their first Johns squad trial at Devizes, next Wednesday evening, May 7 (6pm).

Nine of the local clubs supply at least one player each in the squad of 48 players chosen for the first trial.

Wootton Bassett are best with four players selected, Purton are next best with three while Highworth have two chosen.

Six clubs - Town Gardens, Supermarine, Wroughton, Swindon North End, Stratton Churchway and Westlecot - all have a single representative named.

  • FOUR LOCAL players are named in the Wiltshire Ladies side to play at Calne next Saturday, May 10, in a special match.

June Corbett (Town Gardens) and Jill Webb, county presidents in 2012 and 2002 respectively, Sue Baker (Cricklade) and Patricia Murray (Wootton Bassett) have been selected for the match against Calne (2pm) in memory of Pauline Watson, president in 2000.

Watson was due to be Wiltshire Ladies president again this year in Calne’s centenary year but sadly passed away while holding the post of senior vice president.