MONMOUTHSHIRE are attempting to win the South Western Sub Divisional Group title of the England and Wales Inter Counties Women's Golf Championship for the second successive year at High Post, Salisbury, this week.

And non-playing captain Heather Armstrong has a strong team with a useful blend of youth and experience. While they will not take anything for granted hopes of another success are high.

Newport teenager Jo Pritchard returned home from Colorado University only on Monday after completing her first year in the States and travelled straight to the West Country for today's start of the round robin series.

By all accounts 19-year-old Pritchard a member of Tredegar Park who was runner-up in last year's Welsh Girls' Championship is in fine fettle.

Alice Springs 14-year-old Natasha Morgan is the youngest member of the eight-strong line-up but thoroughly deserves her place after finishing runner-up in the Monmouthshire Women's championship to Celtic Manor's Lauren Diggle who is only 18 herself.

St Pierre's highly talented Eleanor Pilgrim is in the team as well and her presence gives a tremendous boost to the other players as she seems on the verge of a call-up to the Great Britain and Ireland Vagliano Trophy team to face the Continent of Europe in Venice in July.

Ceri Waite from Newport and Llanwern's Sue O'Sullivan provide the experience in the team. "On paper it is a strong side and we are looking to do well again but it will not be easy," said Armstrong as she prepared to lead Monmouthshire into action.

Today they were facing Gloucestershire, play Wiltshire tomorrow and finish up with a match against Welsh rivals Glamorgan on Friday.

The survivors from this series will go forward to the divisional final next month from which the winners qualify for the England and Wales Inter Counties title decider at Moortown, Leeds in September.

Monmouthshire team: L Diggle (Celtic Manor), E Pilgrim (St Pierre), J Pritchard (Tredegar Park), S O'Sullivan (Llanwern), C Tamplin (Monmouth), N Morgan (Alice Springs), C Waite (Newport), O Brock (Monmouth). Non-playing captain H Armstrong (St Pierre).