WESTLECOT’S men recorded another victory last weekend in the East region group to keep their hopes of reaching the end-of-season Wessex League play-offs alive.

They beat Oxford City & County by 28 shots as they ran out 90-62 winners and more importantly collected 14 of the 16 points available in the game by winning on three of the four rinks.

This latest success consolidated Westlecot’s fourth place in the table, taking them to 67 points, only three points behind third-placed Carterton, and within 12 of second-placed Loddon Vale on the same number of matches.

East section champions-elect West Berks can clinch top spot and one of the two play-off places this weekend against Banbury but the other automatic berth and possible wild cards will not be resolved until the final group matches on February 22.

Westlecot made a fast start against Oxford C&C and led 26-6 across the board after five ends and 42-25 at ten. Oxford cut the gap to 55-48 at 15 but Westlecot then pulled away to lead 74-55 at 18 and 90-62 at 21.

Both away rinks, skipped by Chris Cheesley and John Thomas, recorded comfortable 14 and 13-shot wins respectively but things were much tighter at home in Old Town.

Ian Jefferies’ foursome came back from 13-10 down at 15 ends to collect a two on the 21st and last end for a 19-17 win while Dave Snell’s quartet were edged out by one shot on the last end, losing 16-15 .

Elsewhere, Swindon Manor stay rooted to the foot of the east section table and are still searching for that elusive first win after seven matches following their 99-66 loss to Oxford and District.

However, they did pick-up two points as Richard Young enjoyed a first win, skipping his rink to a six-shot success at home at the Manor.

This weekend, in their penultimate East region group matches of the season, Westlecot play Oxford & District while Swindon Manor face Rivermead (Reading).

LATEST SCORES Oxford City & County 62 (2pts) Westlecot 90 (14pts); Oxford & District 99 (14) Swindon Manor 66 (2); Loddon Vale 80 (12) Rivermead 66 (4).