WESTLECOT men’s hopes of a Wessex League wild card entry into the end of season play-offs hang by a thin thread after they slumped to another East Section group game defeat last Sunday.

In their penultimate eEast region match of the 2014/15 campaign, they suffered a shock 76-72 loss to Oxford & District.

The rink honours were shared 2-2 but Westlecot only picked up four points out of a possible 16 because of a four-shot overall defeat.

Westlecot’s two home rinks, skipped by Dave Snell and Dave Godwin, surprisingly struggled badly early on and combined, were 17-2 down at five ends and 24-11 at ten.

They never recovered fully and this combined 41-30 loss was a deficit that was too big for the two away rinks, led by Chris Cheesley and John Thomas, to wipe out.

For Westlecot to have any chance of grabbing a play-off wild card, they must beat Carterton tomorrow in their final group match and collect 15 out of the 16 points on offer, an extremely tall order considering their inconsistent form this season.

Meanwhile, Swindon Manor conclude their extremely tough debut season in the Wessex League tomorrow when they face second placed Loddon Vale (Basingstoke).

RESULTS

Home - Rink 3: James Nobbs, Mike Shawyer, Mike Titcombe Jnr & Dave Snell lost to M Brain 13-22. Rink 4: Kevin Embling, Ian Farragher, Paul Kistle & Dave Godwin lost to J Hollinrake 17-19.

Away- Rink 2: Keith Williamson, Lawrence Smith, Craig Morphet & John Thomas beat J Beardsley 19-17. Rink 5: Dave Matthews, Tom Pittuck, Terry Walton & Chris Cheesley beat R Pynaker 23-18.

Score: Westlecot lost to Oxford & District 72 (4pts) – 76 (12pts).