Westlecot’s ace Neil misses out in Grand Prix final

The Swindon Westlecot indoor star was on the verge of victory three times as he held game shot in an epic final against Malvern Hills’ England senior and junior international Shaun Jones – but each time was denied by the Worcestershire player.

Smith claimed a comfortable first set 8-3, but the second was a different affair as Jones edged it 6-5 on the last end.

Westlecot’s Smith put himself in the driving seat in the tie-breaker and drew shot with his last wood, only for Jones to play a wonder wood to save the match before claiming it on the last end.

The Grand Prix final shootout featured the top 32 players on the planetbowls.com rankings list from last season, where Smith had finished in third spot, playing for a prize pot of £4,000.

On the way to the final, he came from a set down and 3-0 down in the second to beat former Westlecot teammate Neil Hope 2-1 (2-7, 7-4, 2-1) in the first round and followed that up with a comfortable 2-0 (8-4, 8-4) win over Lea Blackham (Sudbury).

Smith was pushed hard in the last eight by England junior international and reigning champion of champions holder Ryan Atkins (Malvern Hills), winning the match 2-1 (3-6, 10-1 2-1).

Then, in the semi-final, he came up against local player Danny Brown (Lincoln), winner of last season’s planetbowls Boston Open Singles, and took the tie breaker for a 2-1 (2-8, 7-0, 2-1) victory.

Smith had the consolation of the runners-up prize of £750 and said: “(I’m) absolutely delighted to have been involved in a final as good as that.

“The last four or five ends were unbelievable, I can’t be disappointed after the way I played.

“I could have lost 2-0 to Hopey (Neil Hope) in my first game, as I saved game against him and it was similar against Ryan (Atkins).

“I felt I got better as the day went on. It was a really great day.”

Westlecot’s Ian Jefferies received a late call-up for the event, but lost his first-round match 2-0 (4-7, 1-9) to Brown.