THE Stratton Churchway duo of Jacki Pearce and Janet Willis snatched victory on an extra end in a dramatic ladies county pairs semi-final at Chippenham Town last Saturday to keep alive their hopes of retaining their county pairs title.

The duo looked down and out against Devizes pairing of Rose Merritt and Sue Ochyra for three-quarters of their match and were trailing 18-8 after 15 ends with only six to play.

But then the holders produced a stunning comeback to claim a remarkable victory, albeit needing a 22nd and extra end.

They also earned the right to represent Wiltshire at Royal Leamington Spa again in the national pairs championship in August.

In the other semi-final at Chippenham Town in the afternoon Wilton’s Dawn Toomer and Lesley Trattles recorded a 27-14 victory over Amesbury’s Rose Ellis and Janice Bull.

RESULTS Quarter-finals (at Chippenham Town) Rose Merritt & Sue Ochyra (Devizes) beat Chris Mitchell & Alison Fail (Purton) 25-21; Jenny Couch & Delia Godwin (Spencer Melksham) lost to Jacki Pearce & Janet Willis (holders, Stratton Churchway) 15-25; Rose Ellis & Janice Bull (Amesbury) beat Kara Little & Irene Button (Chippenham T) 19-17; Dawn Toomer & Lesley Trattles (Wilton) beat Di Gibbs & Jill Webb (Wroughton) 29-19.

Semi-finals: Pearce & Willis (Stratton C) beat Merritt & Ochyra 20-19 (extra end); Toomer & Trattles (Wilton) beat Ellis & Bull (Amesbury) 27-14.

SISTERS Lucy and Katy Smith won the county ladies U25 pairs title last Sunday afternoon at Chippenham Town with an 18-15 victory to complete a straight hat-trick of county ladies U25 pairs titles.

After a closely-fought 21-17 win in the morning semi-finals over fellow Wootton Bassett players Maise and Charlotte Daniell, they had no such problems in the final against Georgina Newman (Trowbridge Town) and Kara Little (Chippenham Town), winning 18-15.

Lucy, who celebrates her 20th birthday next week and younger sister Katy, 18, will now represent Wiltshire for the third time in a row in the final stages of the ladies U25 pairs championship at Royal Leamington Spa on Saturday, August 15.

RESULTS Semi-finals (at Chippenham Town): Lucy & Katy Smith (Wootton Bassett) beat Maisie & Charlotte Daniell (WB) 21-17; Georgina Newman (Trowbridge Town) & Kara Little (Chippenham T) beat Bethany Little (Chip T) and Joanna Richman (Highworth) 20-7.

FINAL: L & K Smith (WB) beat G Newman (Trow T) & K Little (Chip T) 18-15.

 

ATTENTION on the ladies front in Wiltshire has now switched to the two-wood singles championship and the Johns Trophy.

The quarter and semi-finals in the ladies county two wood singles were due to be played last night at North Wilts with the two players left standing for the county final also claiming a place at the national championships at Royal Leamington Spa in August.

Four local players had qualified for the last eight - June Corbett (Town Gardens), Alison Fail (Purton), Carole Coombs (Westlecot) and Katy Smith (Wootton Bassett).

Meanwhile after narrowly losing to Devon by three shots in their opening inter-county championship Johns Trophy group match, Wiltshire must beat Dorset away today (Saturday) at West Moors to keep their hopes of national glory in this competition alive this season.