BOWLS: Biggs back for vital clash in play-offs

2:50pm Saturday 23rd February 2008

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WESTLECOT men begin their bid tomorrow to win the Wessex League overall title for only the fourth time in the 25-year history of the competition.

Their three previous victories came in 1995, 1997 and 1998.

They face tough opposition in their opening Wessex play-off match tomorrow as they have been drawn against Stroud-based Cotswold.

The Gloucestershire side won the title in the opening four years of the league and again in 1990, while this season they have topped the North Region, winning all seven of their group matches.

Westlecot clinched their place in the last 16 and first round of the play-offs with a 92-72 victory over Oxford City and County in their final East Region group match to take runners-up spot in the east section behind Carterton.

The Swindon club have every incentive to shine in the play-offs and reach the final as they will stage the Wessex League grand final on Sunday April 20 - the first time they have been awarded the honour in the 25-year history of the competition.

There was a winning return to competitive bowls for Mel Biggs in the last match against Oxford City and County.

The 51-year-old ex-England indoor and outdoor international had taken a break from competitive county and club league matches over the past 18 months but returned for the last group game playing as number three in Neil Smith's rink.

He will continue to occupy that position for the Cotswold clash.