WESTLECOT failed to reproduce the form that a fortnight earlier had seen them reach the Wessex League play-offs when crushing East Region winners Carterton by 46 shots, writes DAVE EATON.

Consequently they made a swift exit from the Wessex play-offs in the first round (last 16) of the competition, losing 74-83 to Midlands section winners Church Gresley.

The two rinks skipped by Tom Walkley and John Thomas both registered fine away wins against Carterton but struggled badly on their travels this time around on the slow carpet at Swadlincote (Derbyshire) and dropped a massive 28 shots between them.

This proved decisive in the final analysis despite rink honours in the match being shared at 2-2.

Thomas’ rink were tied 3-3 at five ends but then dropped three counts of five to trail 19-5 at 10 ends. They never recovered and when down finally by 18 shots.

Alongside Walkley’s quartet were always playing catch-up after trailing 8-1 at five ends and 21-5 at 15, but did rally slightly to cut their final deficit to only 10 shots.

At home Ian Jefferies’ rink were 7-6 up at 10 ends and 11-10 at 15 and then edged away to grind out a well-earned 16-12 win.

In the other home game Neil Smith’s rink led 10-4 at 10 ends before storming away to lead 29-10 at 19, but their efforts were all in vain owing to the big away losses.

  • THE vastly-experienced duo of Kevin Embling and Ian Jefferies have secured a place in the latter stages of the Men’s National Pairs at Nottingham early next month, but teenage Westlecot colleague Kyle Anderson just missed out in the singles.

Embling and Jefferies grabbed a single on the vital 21st and last end for a 20-19 victory over the Malvern Hills partnership of father and son Ryan and Mark Atkins in the Area 10 final.

They were leading 13-10 but then dropped a big count of seven to trail 17-13. However, they fought back to lead 19-18 after 19 ends.

A single to Malvern on the 20th end brought the scores level and set up a grandstand finish which the Westlecot duo took to book their place in the last 32 in Nottingham on April 5 (1.30pm), against Folkstone’s Area 24 winners Steve Wells and Colin Elson in the first round of the national pairs championship.

Anderson’s match against Mark Atkins (Malvern Hills) in the Area 10 singles final was extremely tight for the first 16 ends.

The Westlecot player led until being pegged back to 6-6 at nine ends and was 12-11 up at 16.

However, Atkins then gained control winning the next five ends to lead 17-12 and then grabbed a three on the 22nd to go 20-12 up.

Anderson though hit back with a single and a three to close the gap to 20-16 but Atkins sealed a 21-16 success with a single on the 25th end to book his place in the latter stages of the national singles in Nottingham next month.

  • DEXION will sponsor the Westlecot Open Bowls Tournament for the second year in a row next weekend.

The competition, carrying a £1,000 top prize, was introduced for the first time last March.

The event has a high-class field for the event on March 24 and 25 (8.30am start each day).