SWINDON’S two indoor clubs made an extremely poor start to the new year in their opening group matches in the Wessex League.

Westlecot slumped to a 98-67 defeat at the hands of Rivermead (Reading), who were second from bottom in the East region table.

Westlecot struggled throughout, trailing 41-26 across the board at halfway, 63-44 at 15 ends and 76-54 at 18.

Only Mike Titcombe Jnr’s home rink, including Joe Mazzotta, Mike Bowden and Paul Kistle, managed a victory to stop an embarrassing whitewash and secure two of the 16 points available.

Westlecot’s hopes of reaching the end-of-season play-offs have been severely dented by the loss and they have dropped to fifth in the table, 29 points adrift of second-placed Carterton but with a match in hand over all of the other teams.

They will certainly have to up their game to revive their season as they play their outstanding fixture on January 18 against top-of-the-table West Berks.

Meanwhile, Swindon Manor’s woes in their debut season continued as they crashed to a 105-58 defeat against East group leaders West Berks (Newbury).

It was Manor’s fourth whitewash of the season and they stay at the foot of the table with just one point from a drawn rink away to Oxford City & County.