HOLDERS Westlecot had to battle hard to secure a narrow victory in their latest men’s Wessex League East Region group match, writes DAVE EATON.

Fielding a side that showed several late changes they just edged home against Oxford and District by three shots in a tense finish.

The match saw no more than seven shots separating the two teams throughout across the board. A Westlecot late rally saw them come from 28-31 and 45-52 down at 10 and 15 ends respectively to grab a 78-75 success.

Although the final score was extremely close Westlecot still took the honours on three of the four rinks (six points) and the overall shot win (eight points) to take 14 out of a possible 16 points.

This moved them up into second place in the table behind group leaders West Berks – both teams also have a match in hand.

The revamped Mick Lynn rink, that trailed throughout at home, was 5-14 and 8-17 adrift at 15 and 18 ends. But they snatched a two on the 21st and last end to cut their final deficit to only 12 shots and it proved decisive in the final analysis.

Alongside at Westlecot Neil Smith was tied 7-7 at 10 ends but then forged ahead to lead 16-9 at 15 but was pulled back in the last few ends to only win by four shots.

Away at Littlemore (Oxford) both Chris Cheesley and Dave Snell’s rinks had to come from behind to win.

Cheesley was 7-8 down at 10 ends and 13-16 adrift at 15, but then hit back well to lead 20-18 at 18 ends and finally win by four shots.

Snell was 10-8 up at 10 ends but down 11-13 at 15. Seven shots in the next three ends saw him move 18-13 up and go on to win by a comfortable 22-15 margin.

The East Region group is now scheduled to take a six week break.

Westlecot’s next game is scheduled for Sunday January 11 when they face Oxfordshire side and 2006 Wessex winners, Carterton.

RESULTS HOME Rink 1: Gary Jackson, Josh Cottle, Hedley Bowen and Neil Smith beat Simon Claridge 23-19; Rink 2: Kevin Embling, John Anderson, Jeff Nichols and Mike Lynn lost to Chris Earle 10-22.

AWAY Rink 1: Dave Matthews, Joe Mazzotta, John Thomas and Chris Cheesley beat Howard Watts 23-19; Rink 2: Mike Titcombe jnr, Tony Rivers, John Williamson and Dave Snell beat R Brain 22-15.

Overall score: Westlecot beat Oxford and District 78-75 and by 14pts to 2.

RESULTS Nov 9: Carterton 66 (4) Oxford & District 81 (12); Chipping Norton 67 (4) Oxford City & County 82 (12); Rivermead 57 (2) West Berks 96 (14); Westlecot – no fixture.

Nov 22: Oxford C & C 59 (0) West Berks 97 (16); Oxford & D 75 (2) Westlecot 78 (14); Carterton v Rivermead (postponed, to be played now on Dec 14); Chipping Norton – no fixture.

TABLE 1 West Berks 44pts; 2 Westlecot 32; 3 Oxford & D 32; 4 Oxford C & C 26; 5 Carterton 22; 6 Chipping Norton 18; 7 Rivermead 2.

NEXT MATCHES January 11, 2009: Carterton v Westlecot; Oxford & D v West Berks; Chipping Norton v Rivermead.