WESTLECOT men’s hopes of glory this season in the Denny Plate are over after they were beaten by Clevedon last Saturday.

Despite leading for practically the whole of the last 32 tie, they faded on the run-in and went down by three shots, losing 74-71 to the Somerset side.

Westlecot made a fine start and across the board after five ends led 20-13. They increased the advantage to 43-25 at 10 and held an 11-shots cushion 55-44 after 15.

But Clevedon finished the stronger, cutting Westlecot’s lead to 60-57 after 18 ends and then edging in front at the finish to win 74-71.

Rink honours were shared 2-2, with Ian Jefferies’ rink winning at home 25-13, but this advantage was cancelled out as Mel Biggs’ quartet lost by 12 shots, going down 25-13.

At Clevedon, the rink skipped by Mike Titcombe were tied 7-7 at 10 ends and led 14-7 at 15 but just held on for a 17-16 victory.

However, Steve Remington’s foursome, despite being 8-0 up at five ends, trailed 16-12 at 15. They cut the gap to17-15 at 18 ends but finally lost by four shots 20-16.

A QUIET week in the build-up to Christmas has ensued on the national championship and competitions front for Westlecot bowlers.

In the ladies’ championships, in the triples the trio of Wendy Anderson, Josie Lloyd and Janet Willis beat Joyce Keating’s triples team from Cotswold (Stroud) 24-16 to book an Area 10 finals spot against either Pauline Gunn (MidGlos) or Pamela Harris (Malvern Hills).

The Over 60s ladies’ pairs competition has seen Anderson and Willis beat Pat Thorley and her Cotswold partner 20-12 to book a place in the final against Pauline Gunn and her MidGlos partner.

The quarter-finals championships line-up has been completed in the men’s singles, pairs, triples and fours.

In the men’s O60s singles, John Thomas has reached the semi-finals and will face John Heathcote (Cotswold), and in the O50s triples Dave Snell’s trio, after a tight 14-13 success over Ian Jefferies, followed it with a comfortable 20-9 victory over John Thomas’ triple to book an Area 10 finals place against Brian Macnamara (Malvern Hills).

The mixed pairs have seen Neil Smith and daughter Katy beat Tim Jupp (Carterton) 23-10 in the semi-finals.

Neil and Katy plus Lucy Smith and Ian Jefferies are also through to the mixed fours Area 10 final against Ryan Atkins’ quartet after a 20-14 victory over Martin Bevan’s foursome from Cotswold in the semi-finals.