WILTSHIRE opened their new Division Three county championship campaign with a comprehensive 22-14 victory over Cumbria at the Phoenex Bar in Wootton Bassett.

The hosts started strongly in the ladies’ B section with wins for Erica Hartnett and Ally Harrison, before Carol Rich lost a last-leg decider.

However lady of the match Ally Thomson and debutant April Polden won their matches, and when Norma Gould won her game,Wiltshire led 5-1 going into the men’s B section. Barry Cadd won the first match before 13-year-old Josh McCarthy left the stage to massive applause after winning 3-2 in a fantastic performance.

Dave Gould lost narrowly before successive wins for Rob Higginson,Garry Ellis and man of the match Terry Smith made the score 10-2 in Wiltshire's favour.

Defeats for Ron Ashton, Clive Taylor and Paul Oakley reduced the lead to five.

Fifteen-year-old Jack Tweddell was next on and was desperately unlucky to lose 3-2 in a brilliant performance, before Pete Harris and Terry Wood won their games and Wiltshire led 12-6 overnight.

An early start on Sunday against a very strong Cumbria Ladies A obviously didn't agree with the Wiltshire team and Tina Rowlands lost comprehensively in the first match before star performer Carol Bowers won a last-leg decider to make the score 13-7 to Wiltshire.

However, losses for Rachel Hutton, Ann Paget, Jill Little and Jo Hooke reduced the lead to just two going into the Men’s A section.

Lee Evans won 3-1 and when Mark Cox won the final leg to win 3-2, the lead was four again.

Dave Wicks lost his game before Chris Aubrey easily beat his opponent.

Terry Smith didn't get going but impressive wins for Juan Hopkins, Ian Greenaway and Bob Bowers secured Wiltshire's win with four matches still to play.

John Newland was very unlucky to lose before wins for Paul Boulton, Richie Jones and Chris Daglish made the final score 22-14 to Wiltshire and with three points to underline a very good start to life in the new division.

RESULTS

A Ladies: Tina Rowlands (14.85) lost to Michelle Jackson (17.89) 0-3; Carol Bowers (14.51) beat Sas Bode (14.49) 3-2; Ann Paget (15.95) lost to Heather Draper (17.89) 0-3; Rachel Hutton (16.74) lost to Emma Nattrass (18.20) 2-3; Jill Little (15.70) lost to Lorraine Green (20.41) 1-3; Jo Hooke (13.92) lost to Anna McKenzie (14.38) 2-3.

A Men: Lee Evans (22.34) beat Mark Sloan (21.18) 3-1; Mark Cox (27.33) beat Les Read (24.48) 3-2; Dave Wicks (24.37) lost to John Blayney (24.19) 2-3; Chris Aubrey (23.95) beat Peter Taylor (22.57) 3-1; Terry Smith (19.230 lost to Gary Heaney (19.63) 1-3; Juan Hopkins (25.21) beat Mike Sowerby (21.90) 3-2; Ian Greenaway (26.23) beat Paul McGimpsey (24.21) 3-2; Bob Bowers (23.54) beat Paul Tuck (20.54) 3-1; John Newland (25.77) lost to Mark Steele (24.61) 2-3; Paul Boulton (23.12) beat Clive Smitham (20.75) 3-0; Richie Jones (23.85) beat Ricky Winder (23.40) 3-1; Chris Daglish (22.25) beat Alan Armstrong (23.76) 3-2.

B Ladies: Erica Hartnett (17.48) beat Kerry Wilkinson (15.60) 3-0; Ally Harrison (11.89) beat Michelle Black (12.39) 3-1; Carol Rich (13.93) lost to Anita Ward (15.54) 2-3; Ally Thomson (19.27) beat Angie Edgar (14.45) 3-0; April Polden (16.20) beat Val Hargrave (16.74) 3-2; Norma Gould (13.36) beat Wendy Cottier (13.61) 3-2.

B Men: Barry Cadd (20.45) beat Colin Hargrave (21.20) 3-2; Josh McCarthy (22.48) beat Graham Metcalf (21.14) 3-2; David Gould (21.43) lost to Des Halbert (20.25) 2-3; Rob Higginson (20.96) beat Tom Smith (21.70) 3-2; Garry Ellis (23.12) beat Eddie Waugh (18.54) 3-0; Terry Smith (29.47) beat David Turnbull (22.54) 3-0; Ron Ashton (19.83) lost to Steve Bonnett (21.51) 1-3; Clive Taylor (19.53) lost to Martin Wilson (19.27) 0-3; Jack Tweddell (23.08) lost to Clive Smitham (23.09) 2-3; Paul Oakley (21.75) lost to Tony Stone (22.00) 1-3; Pete Harris (22.80) beat Scott Walton (21.23) 3-1; Terry Wood (26.84) beat Neil Winford (22.30) 3-0.