BOWLS: Westlecot duo closing on National Over 60s glory (From Swindon Advertiser)

BOWLS: Westlecot duo closing on National Over 60s glory

9:00am Saturday 11th February 2012 in Sport

WENDY Anderson and Sylvia Wells have qualified for the latter stages of the National Over 60s Pairs to be staged in Nottingham at the beginning of April, writes DAVE EATON.

The Westlecot duo and Area 10 champions clinched their place in the last 16 with a strong display in the inter-area final played at Malvern Hills last Saturday.

They defeated the Area 9 champions and Bromsgrove pairing of Gill Cliff and Chris Grigg 18-12.

Meanwhile, Ian Jefferies and Ellen Bolland open their bid for a national title in Northampton today.

The Westlecot duo will compete in the last 32 in the national mixed pairs championship finals.

In their first match this morning (9.30am) they are due to face Lorraine Kuhler and David Hubbard (Adur, Southwick, West Sussex).

n WESTLECOT’S mixed team are the only side left in any national inter-club championship competition.

After securing victories over Oxford City and County (12-4), Oxford and District (10-6) and Foxhill, Aylesbury (14-2), they have reached the last 16 in the National Top Club championship.

Westlecot are due to face Moonfleet 2000 (Weymouth) at home on Sunday, February 19 (10am), with the winners moving into the quarter-finals at the Torquay Leisure Hotels from March 23-25.

Westlecot also reignited their 2011/12 Wessex League campaign last Sunday with a hard-fought three shots win over West Berks.

They bounced back from their surprise 83-80 loss to Banbury seven days earlier to defeat the Newbury indoor club 72-69 and notch 13 out of a possible 16 points.

This lifted Westlecot up into second spot in the East Region table behind Carterton with two group matches remaining, and greatly boosted their hopes of reaching the end-of-season play-offs.

At home, Ian Jefferies’ rink managed to edge home 20-18, while Neil Smith was involved in a tight match but trailed for most of it. However, a superb count of three on the 21st and last end saw his rink snatch a 16-16 draw.

Away in Newbury, Dave Snell’s rink were always in control after leading 10-1 after five ends, and eventually won 23-11.

John Thomas’ quartet struggled badly and were 21-4 down at 15 ends, but rallied to cut the final deficit to 24-13 and play a vital role in the victory.

Tomorrow, Westlecot meet Oxford and District (10am) who are second-bottom in the nine-team east section.