THREE local players, Highworth’s Deanne Davis and Purton duo Julie Jones and Rachel Martin, all reached the quarter-finals of the county ladies singles – but none managed to claim a place in the final.

In the quarters, played at Holt last Saturday, Davis lost a tight match 21-19 to Ann Roberts-Phare (North Wilts).

And Jones won the family battle against her daughter, Martin, in the quarters 21-14 having been tied 11-11 at 15 ends.

However, Jones lost in the semi-finals to Roberts-Phare despite holding a 13-7 lead after 13 ends.

But Jones only managed to score another two singles as her North Wilts opponent fought back to claim a 21-15 victory after 24 hard-fought ends.

The final at Bradford-on-Avon on July 27 will be between Roberts-Phare and Devizes’ player Bev Lilley, who beat Kathryn Yeoman (Box) in the semi-finals 21-14.

Both will also represent Wiltshire in the national singles championships at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

  • WILTSHIRE ladies bid this weekend to clinch top spot in Group A of the West section of the Johns Trophy inter-county championship.

They won the group last season and will be looking to emulate that success again and claim a quarter-final place against the West section group B winners on July 11.

Wiltshire have won both of their matches, against Gloucesershire 121-105 at home and Warwickshire away 141-102.

These wins earned them 36 points and they sit 13 clear of both Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, with Dorset bottom on six points.

Wiltshire just need to beat Dorset away today at Gillingham on shots to clinch top spot.

Last season, Wiltshire were victorious in the quarter-finals and reached the last four at the nationals at Leamington but lost in the Johns Trophy final to Surrey.

  • WILTSHIRE ladies recorded another victory in the South West Counties League with a 121-99 success over Worcestershire on Wednesday at Bredon.

Wiltshire, last season’s league winners, surprisingly lost their opening SWCL match 119-103 to Cornwall but have bounced back well since to defeat Somerset away 144-108 and now account for Worcestershire.

They took the honours on four of the six rinks at Bredon and lost on the other two to register an 18-4 success on points.

Top of the rink honours was Janet Willis (Stratton Churchway), who skipped her rink to a big 28-8 victory.

Next best was the rink skipped by Babs Salter (Wroughton), that included club colleague June Corbett and Purton’s Julie Jones, who won 27-21.

While the rink skipped by Purton’s Alison Fail, and including Chris Mitchell (Purton) and Deanne Davis (Highworth), won 18-15.

The two losses were suffered by skips Wendy Anderson (Stratton Churchways) and Supermarine’s Pat Jones.

Wiltshire’s next SWCL match is away at Brimfield, Ludlow, against Herefordshire on July 10.