WESTLECOT men bounced back from their five-shot loss to Loddon Vale (Basingstoke) a fortnight earlier in the east region of the Wessex League to beat Oxford City and County comfortably 97-72 last Sunday morning.

The Swindon side took the honours on three of the four rinks to collect 14 points.

Top rink for Westlecot was the home foursome of Denis Holborow, Shaun Hicks (skip), Chris Cheesley and skip Kyle Anderson who won by 17 shots, while away Westlecot won on both rinks.

John Thomas’ quartet recorded a nine-shot success and skip Mike Titcombe edged home by three despite being 15-6 up at 10 ends.

The only reverse came at home where skip Neil Smith lost a close game by three shots to fellow Open Singles Circuit player Scott Edwards.

Westlecot were in charge from the off particularly away in Oxford and led 31-18 after five ends and increased that advantage to 56-31 after 10.

They were pegged back slightly but still led 73-51 at 15 ends and eventually ran-out comfortable 97-72 victors at 21 ends.

The Old Town club move up to fourth place in the east region table on 43 points five behind third-placed Chipping Norton, eight points behind Loddon Vale and only 10 adrift of West Berks (Newbury), who they have already beaten and on whom they have a game in hand.

The east region in the Wessex League closes down for the festive period and does not re-commence until January 7.

Westlecot should have met Swindon Manor that day but it clashes with their third round national Top Club tie with Clarrie Dunbar. The match with the Manor has been switched to Saturday, January 27.

Manor’s postponed game versus Rivermead on December 10 owing to snow has been re-arranged for January 7.

RESULTS

Westlecot v Oxford City & County (Wessex League) Home - Rink 1: Denis Holborow, Shaun Hicks, Chris Cheesley & Kyle Anderson beat Ian Snowden 32-15. Rink 2: Phil Gregory, Dave Snell, Mel Biggs & Neil Smith lost to Scott Edwards 16-20.

Away - Rink 3: Hugh Dawson, Dave Matthews, Terry Walton & Mike Titcombe beat Colin Earl 23-20. Rink 4: Geoff Smith, Ian Farragher, Paul Kistle & John Thomas beat Mark Charlett 26-17.

Score: Westlecot beat Oxford C&C 97-72 and 14pts to 2 pts.

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Sunday, January 7: Oxford C&C v Chipping Norton; Carterton v Oxford C&C; Swindon Manor v Rivermead.

Sunday, January 14: Manor v Banbury; Loddon Vale v Oxford C&C.

Sunday January 21: Westlecot v Rivermead; Loddon Vale v Chipping Norton; Manor v West Berks; Oxford & D v Oxford C&C.

WESTLECOT go into the festive break still actively involved in four national team competitions.

Westlecot ladies have reached round four in the Yetton Plate, while the men have qualified for round four in the Denny Plate and the senior men for round four in the Over 60s double rinks.

The mixed team have reached round three in the Top Club competition and face Clarrie Dunbar away on Sunday, January 7.

The two Plate competitions, two rinks home and two away, will both be played on Saturday, January 6. The ladies face Cotswold (Stroud) while the men have to play West Berks (Newbury).

In the Over 60s double rinks Westlecot face Herts IBC with one rink at home at Westlecot and one away in Watford.

In the main men’s and ladies’ national championship events, singles, pairs, triples and fours in Area 14 Westlecot are still represented in most of the categories.

Men’s singles sees Mike Titcombe into the quarter-finals. Kyle Anderson and partner, Neil Smith and partner plus Mel Biggs and partner are all through to the area quarter-finals.

Ian Jefferies team have reached the triples quarters while Craig Hatherall’s teams have reached triples and fours quarters.

Mike Titcombe and team have also reached fours quarters while Titcombe will play former Westlecot colleague Craig Morphet, now competing for Carterton, in the Area 14 Under 25 final by January 7.

A place at City of Ely in the final stages and last 16 of the men’s U25s awaits the winner.

In the ladies section in Area 14 Lucy Smith and Jayne Croston have reached the singles quarter-finals and the Smith sisters Lucy and Katy the pairs quarters.

Katy and her team are through to the triple quarters along with Janet Willis and her team. Willis is also still in the fours.