OXFORDSHIRE 67 DORSET 138

DORSET’s ladies enjoyed a stunning victory over Oxfordshire in the second round of the Atherley Trophy at the North Wilts Bowling Club in Chippenham.

Having beaten Wiltshire in the last round by 58 shots, Oxford-shire were expected to test Dor-set who were out to defend the title they won last season.

However, in a thoroughly one-sided match, it was Dorset that gave their opponents no opportunity to repeat their previous success.

Dorset, who had demolished Devon in the first round by winning five and drawing one of the rinks, were in no mood to give their latest opponents a sniff of a chance.

The writing was on the wall from the outset as five of the six Dorset rinks posted shots to take an early 9-1 lead.

By the completion of five ends the margin had blossomed to 43-13, and barring any unlikely reversal of fortunes, Dorset were seemingly moving majestically towards a quarter-final showdown with near-neighbours Somerset, who overcame Gloucester-shire by six shots.

Dorset continued to amass an unassailable total and with still 19 more of the 126 ends to play, Oxfordshire threw in the towel and conceded, with the deficit standing at 71 shots.

And had it not been for the early finish, Dorset would have recorded their highest ever team total in an Atherley match.

Oxfordshire’s top rink, which included international Kath Hawes, was well contained by the Dorset rink skipped by Viv Mansell, who was supported by current England player Julie Leake, and front end pairing Pat Cornick and Frances Hewett.

With three of their ends remaining, Dorset held sway with a four-shot advantage.

Two other rinks had close games, with Dorset keeping ahead, but the best performances came from the rinks of Joan Halliwell and Freda Yates, who both ran out convincing winners.

Full rinks results (Dorset skips first): Viv Mansell 19, Jane Murphy 17, Kath Desmond 16, Carol Nall 12, Jill Bryant 15, Jeanette Berry 10, Penny Cresswell 24, Sue Stewart 12, Freda Yates 24, Shirley Crick 10, Joan Halliwell 40, Ann Norton 6.