MID Cheshire made a winning start to a new British Ladies’ County Championship campaign when they beat Wales on Sunday.

A 227-191 success in the home leg at Rudheath included a success to single figures for Wharton Cons’ Tamsin Birkett (21-9) and a thrilling 21-20 triumph for her clubmate Joan Jackson.

Birkett’s contribution was an important one after the visitors closed a gap between the teams on aggregate from 25 chalks after the first four blocks to just seven once the middle four had finished.

However wins for Wharton Cons trio Cindie McLean, Hazel Williams and Nicola Boulton, as well as Winnington’s Stacey Linegar, ensured a comfortable victory by 36.

Northwich Guardian:

Mid Cheshire Ladies' away side before their meeting with Wales at Min-Y-Don, in Colwyn Bay, in the British Ladies' County Championship on Sunday

Mid Cheshire returned as many winning cards as their hosts at Min-y-Don, in Colwyn Bay, where they missed out by just four points on aggregate.

Elaine Garner (Norley) was the pick of those.

Castle members Jackie Ollier, Alisha Marshall and Lisa Downes, along with Linda Bell (Norley) and Gill Tench (Wharton Cons), also reached 21 in a President’s Division encounter.

Mid Cheshire meet Lancashire, who squeezed past Dudley & District by three chalks, when they return to action next month.

Results

British Ladies' County Championship

President's Division

Sunday, May 20

At Rudheath, Northwich

Mid Cheshire 227-191 Wales

Sue Worrall (Wharton Cons ) 21-12 Viv Roberts (Sychdyn)

Dawn Nield (Wharton Cons) 16-21 Emily Gowen (Broughton & Bretton)

Joan Jackson (Wharton Cons) 21-20 Ashley Zepeda (Nercwys)

Jennifer Oultram (Castle) 21-11 Katelyn Morgan-Rowlands (Esclusham)

Janet Cross (Davenham) 18-21 Chris Hey (Sychdyn)

Linda Hough (Norley) 11-21 Aileen Coleman (Oakenholt)

Tamsin Birkett (Wharton Cons) 21-9 Sarah Penlington (Broughton & Bretton)

Dot Barker (Owley Wood) 14-21 Kelly Fleet (Parciau)

Cindie McLean (Wharton Cons) 21-12 Dawn McDougall (Sychdyn)

Stacey Linegar (Winnington) 21-13 Kelsey Morgan-Rowlands (Esclusham)

Hazel Williams (Wharton Cons) 21-12 Kelly Richardson (Johnstown)

Nicola Boulton (Wharton Cons) 21-18 Linda Williams (Hawkesbury)

At Min-Y-Don, Colwyn Bay

Wales 205-201 Mid Cheshire

Amanda Nicholas (Gresford Colliery) 21-11 Wendy Allen (Barnton Cricket Club)

Abigail Wynne-Jones (Denbigh) 16-21 Jackie Ollier (Castle)

Miriam Forder (Rhos Park) 21-16 Pat Newhouse (Norley)

Linda Kirkham (Coed Talon) 12-21 Alisha Marshall (Castle)

Sue Dace (St Asaph) 16-21 Linda Bell (Norley)

Marilyn Lea (Eirias Park) 21-15 Joan Nicholas (Norley)

Bev Taylor (Highbury) 13-21 Lisa Downes (Castle)

Olwen Edwards (Eirias Park) 13-21 Gill Tench (Wharton Cons)

Nia Jones (Coed Talon) 21-11 Jean Starkey (Castle)

Jenny Hadwin (Trefnant) 9-21 Elaine Garner (Norley)

Jane Bowler (Conwy) 21-11 Janet Trotman (Hartford)

Sarah Nicholas (Gresford Colliery) 21-11 Sarah Johnson (Barnton)

Mid Cheshire win 428-396 on aggregate