Middle England League

Gloucestershire Women (15pts) 163-85(2pts) Oxfordshire Women

GLOUCESTERSHIRE women began their Middle England League campaign with a massive 78 shot win 163-85 over Oxfordshire at Bishops Cleeve B.C.

The side won five out of six rinks with the best coming from Val Osmond (Ardagh), Pat Baker (Kingswood & Hanham), Ann White (Arrow) and Rachel Hughes (Royal Forest of Dean) who up against S.Crick leapt into a 17-1 lead at halfway and continued to pile on the shots leading 32-3 after 15 ends. A further 13 shots without reply saw them have a stunning 45-3 win.

Jill Forward (Frampton), Rita Gerry (Moreton), Di Wilson (Olveston) and Iona Bird (Barnwood) up against N.Durston were in command after the first ten ends leading 14-5. They then went 22-9 ahead and cruised to a 28-13 win.

Val Ayres (Lydney), Val Major (Churchdown) Sue Osbourne (Kingswood & Hanham) and Joy Sheward (Barnwood) strode into a 16-6 lead over D.Jacob at halfway. Keeping a high tempo, the rink then scored another 17 shots only dropping three for an impressive 33-9 win.

Fran Stockford (Olveston), Myra Savage (Falcon), Pauline Gunn and Kay Gent (both Caer Glow) trailed J. Berry 10-7 and 17-15 after 15 ends before picking up five shots in three ends to go 20-18 ahead. A flurry of shots over the last three ends produced a 25-19 win.

Val Molton (Kingswood & Hanham), Veronica Ritchie (Olveston), Linda Challenger (Page Park) and Jeanette Scott against W.Cross opened up a 14-6 lead after 10 ends and although the gap went down to five shots they gained a22-16 win.

The only losing rink was that of Jenny Westlake, Jackie (both Arrow), Gill Meadows (Dursley) and Julia Stannard (Nailsworth) who up against C. Penson found themselves 9-6 down at half way and as the shots dried up over the last six ends they fell to a 25-10 loss.