WESTLECOT women are through to the county final in the English Women's Bowling Association National Top Club competition.

They clinched their place in the county final of what used to be known as the Travelsphere competition with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Wootton Bassett in the northern area final.

Westlecot lost the singles but took the honours in the other three disciplines for a 3-1 success and a showdown with Trowbridge Town, winners of the southern section.

Two of the four disciplines were clear-cut with Bassett's Barbara Twine winning the singles by six shots, while Westlecot's triples team, skipped by Rosemary Nichols, overcame Susan Walker's trio by eight shots.

However, the pairs and fours went right down to the wire with Westlecot just edging out Bassett for the overall victory.

Going into the last end Pauline Knox and Val Mortimer (Westlecot) trailed Maureen Rogers and Maureen Marsh 16-14 but then picked up three shots for a last-gasp win.

It was equally tight in the fours match with Westlecot holding a one-shot advantage going into the 21st and last end.

But Olive Henery's rink held their nerve against Pam Wheeler to collect a shot and ensure overall success.

Westlecot and Trowbridge Town will clash in the county final on July 17 at Spencer Melksham the winners progressing to the next round and a meeting with the Cornish champions.

Results

Singles: Anne Hayward lost to Barbara Twine 15-21.

Pairs: Pauline Knox and Val Mortimer beat Maureen Marsh and Maureen Rogers 17-16.

Triples: Mary Dyer, Jennie Vowles and Rosemary Nichols beat D Croucher, Sybil Wiles and Susan Walker 19-11.

Fours: June Johns, Pat Cornish, Joan Woodrough and Olive Henery beat Mary Levine, M Smart, Pat Edmonds and Pam Wheeler 17-15.

Westlecot beat Wootton Bassett 3-1.

WILTSHIRE ladies are just one match away from a place in the national finals at Leamington Spa next month.

They are through to the zone final in the Johns Trophy and will face Hampshire on the neutral green at Three Mile Cross, Reading, on Tuesday, July 15.

Wiltshire booked their place in the last eight of the inter-county championship with a crushing 61-shot victory over Herefordshire.

The same side that demolished Herefordshire will take on Hampshire.

Victory over Hants will take Wiltshire to Leamington, and just two steps away from regaining the Johns Trophy which they last won in 1995.

ALREADY through to the national championship finals at Leamington Spa are four local players.

Rodbourne Cheney's Wendy Anderson and Brenda Hunter (Wroughton) will compete in the two-wood championship, while the Supermarine duo of Iris Gardiner and Pat Jones have qualified in the pairs.