WESTLECOT junior team missed-out in their bid to reach a place in the final of the David Cornwell Under 25 Double Rinks competition on the last end.

They were tied 41-41 in the semi-final of the competition, staged at Sutton IBC against Kent side Swale (Sittingbourne) recently, with Mike Titcombe’s rink having already finished and won their game 22-19 On the other rink, skipped by Kyle Anderson, Westlecot trailed 19-22 but were holding two shots for the game with just one wood left in the match to be played by Swale’s Josh Pounds.

But agonisingly for the Old Town team Pounds got a slight feather off the two shot bowls, to trail the jack back a few inches and collect three shots to seal a hard fought victory for his side.

It was a heartbreaking ending for the young side who had, in previous rounds, beaten Bristol, MidGlos, Oxford City & County and Moonfleet (Weymouth) to reach the semi-finals for the first time.

However, they produced a stirring display against Swale who went into the semi-final as hot favourites as they were fielding three (two men and one woman) current England U25 internationals and a further two more of this season’s U25 triallists and pushed them right down to the wire.

The narrow loss dashed Westlecot’s hopes of a reaching the final and the possibility of landing a second national team title since the indoor facility opened at the Old Town Club in 1983.

Team manager on the day, John Anderson, said: “They went in as underdogs, with Swale fielding three internationals, but played well.

“There was excellent spirit from the whole team supporting each other.

“The early start from the Mike Titcombe rink getting away from international Perry Martin was a big surprise, but the Westlecot rink was playing very well with all four players contributing.

“It was a worrying start from Kyle Anderson’s rink initially but picking up a six was a great fillip, but this was the only end in the first 12.”

As the match progressed the Titcombe rink was getting pegged back but Anderson’s rink was pulling up and picked up a five on the 16th.

Titcombe held on picking up a two on the last to secure a 22-19 win but Anderson still had two ends to play but balanced the overall score at 20 ends.

However, after Smith and Morphet had drawn shot on the last end, Westlecot saw victory taken away with the last bowl of the match.

“Westlecot only had the bare minimum number of eight players available, including Jake Webster who is in his first season competing indoors,” Anderson added.

“They all made major contributions along the way supporting each other and should take great pride in their achievements.

“The oldest players, Jackson and Anderson, are only 22 so the team have a number of years ahead to play together.”

“They are a credit to Westlecot – losing the national semi on the last bowl of the match is a fantastic achievement.”

Swale (Sittingbourne, Kent) progress to the final of the Under 25 Double Rinks at Nottingham on Saturday March 21 and will play either Ipswich (Suffolk) or Wellingborough (Northants).