BOWLS: Westlecot one match from play-off final

11:26am Tuesday 11th March 2008

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WESTLECOT men are one match away from achieving their goal of reaching the 2008 Wessex League play-offs final and being able to enjoy the luxury of home advantage.

In the quarter-finals at the weekend they produced another excellent performance to beat Clarrie Dunbar by 24 shots.

They inflicted the Central Region group winners' first defeat in 10 matches this season as they ran-out 90-66 victors.

Now Westlecot, who were only runners-up to Carterton in the East Region, face wild card entrant Bournemouth in the last four at Oxford and District IBC on Sunday.

In the other semi-final, holders Carterton will play Plymouth.

Westlecot made a fine start in their bid to reach the last four as they led Clarrie Dunbar overall 21-10 after five ends.

The Swindon club were 46-25 up at 10 ends but only 65-51 at 15, however, that was extended at 18 ends to 75-59 before winning by 24 shots.

At home, Graham Hatherall's quartet were never troubled and raced into a 17-6 lead at 10 ends They never looked back to move 26-10 in front at 15 and won by a decisive 19 shots.

Neil Smith's rink were involved in a tight but enthralling high quality match. They trailed Russell Francis' quartet 3-4 at five ends, and 8-9 and 14-15 at 10 and 15 ends respectively.

The turning point came on the 18th end. From 14-17 down Smith picked up a four to lead and followed that on the 19th end with a three to move 21-17 up and eventually won by two.

Away in Frome, Dave Snell's four were always in control leading 5-1 at five ends and 11-7 at 10. They moved 15-9 up at 15 and increased that advantage to 19-10 at 18 before claiming a nine-shot success.

The only losing rink was the one skipped by Ian Jefferies, which led until halfway, but went down by five shots.

They led England international Graham Shadwell 10-3 at 10 ends but then failed to score on the next six ends.

Jefferies' rink dropped six shots on the 15th to trail 10-17 and were 20-11 down at 18 ends. However, they fought back with a six of their own on the 19th and finally went down by only five shots.

Westlecot would appear to have the best semi-final draw this Sunday as they will meet wild card entrants Bournemouth who only finished third in the Coastal group.

They have avoided Carterton, the holders, who beat them earlier in the season in the east section and Plymouth, four time winners of the play-offs since 2001.

SCORES Home Rink 1: Kyle Anderson, Dan Hoskin, Mel Biggs and Neil Smith (skip) beat Dick Discombe, Ian Francis, Graham Luker and Russell Francis 21-19.

Rink 3: Bob George, David Vowles, Mike Jackson and Graham Hatherall (skip) beat J Freeman, K Wilkins, Jim Roy and Keith Bailey 31-12.

Away Rink 1: Kevin Embling, Dave Matthews, Chris Cheesley and Ian Jefferies (skip) lost to Alan Whittock, A Brown, Andy Colebrooke and Graham Shadwell 17-22.

Rink 2: Tom Walkley, Barry Sictorness, John Williamson and Dave Snell beat A Faulkner, M Sawtors, Mick Parsons and Alan Colebrooke 21-13.

Overall result: Westlecot beat Clarrie Dunbar 90-66.

PLAY-OFF RESULTS Quarter-Finals Plymouth 82 Malvern 61; Moonfleet 49 Carterton 87; WESTLECOT 90 Clarrie Dunbar 66; Taunton Deane 46 Bournemouth 82.

Semi-Finals (Sun March 16) Plymouth (winners 2001, 2003, 2005 and 06) v Carterton (holders and winners 2007 only) at Taunton Deane IBC (10am) WESTLECOT (winners 1995, 1997 and 98) v Bournemouth at Oxford & District IBC (10am) FINAL This will be staged at Westlecot on Sunday, April 20 (10am).