WESTLECOT men are still on course to win this year's Wessex League play-offs and claim the overall indoor league title for the first time in 10 years They booked their place in the 2008 championship final with an-11 shot win over Bournemouth IBC at Oxford and District Indoor Bowls Club on Sunday morning.

Westlecot took the honours on three of the four rinks as they ran-out 87-76 victors and will now face Plymouth in the final next month.

They recorded a very comfortable 98-58 victory over the holders Carterton in the other semi-final which was staged at Taunton Deane.

The last time Westlecot made the final they went on to clinch the title at Donyatt (Ilminster) in 1998 - their third success in a golden spell of three wins in four years.

This year Westlecot had even more incentive than normal to book a place in the final. It is the silver jubilee of the competition and the Swindon club will enjoy home advantage having been awarded the honour of staging the final by league officials long before the 2007/08 indoor season commenced.

"That is the first goal achieved," said team captain Chris Cheesley. "We were determined to make the final this time around as it will be on our own green for the first time.

"It was a very good team performance and win over Bournemouth as they are a good team and have internationals in their side.

"The skip playing Dave (Snell) was walking on water and pulling off some remarkable shots and keeping Bournemouth in the match.

"It is only halfway beating Bournemouth and reaching the final, the hardest part is still to come.

"Yes, home advantage should help us but good sides can play on any green and believe me Plymouth are a very good team - it will be tough but we are up for it."

Westlecot just had the edge throughout but only led 43-38 at 10 ends overall. That was extended to 67-52 at 15, pulled back to only 73-68 at 18 but finally increased to 11 shots at the end.

Graham Hatherall's rink dropped a four on the first end but hit straight back with a six on the next and then powered away to lead 18-5 at 10 ends. They maintained the upperhand in the game to finally win by 12 shots.

Ian Jefferies' quartet were 8-0 down at five ends but fought back to level at 10 ends. A five on the 14th put them 17-12 up and they played solidly to win by five shots.

Neil Smith's rink were 7-2 up at five ends but pegged back to 9-9 by England international Peter Ward.

However, they forged ahead again for a 27-12 success.

Everything started well for Dave Snell's rink as they went 5-1 up after three ends. But on the next Bournemouth skip Chris Daniels killed the end when five shots down and on the re-spotted jack turned three down into three up as he trailed the jack into the ditch.

Daniels kept producing brilliant shots and led Snell, pictured, 20-6 after 14 ends. He looked capable of wiping out Westlecot's overall advantage on his own but it proved to be too much.

Snell's shell-shocked rink certainly did not play as badly as a 30-9 loss would suggest.

However, this 21-shot loss was compensated by the other three rinks and Westlecot march forward into the Wessex League final.

SCORES

Rink 2: John Thomas, David Vowles, Mike Jackson and Graham Hatherall beat John O'Donnell 28-16; Rink 3: Tom Walkley, Barry Sictorness, John Williamson and Dave Snell lost to Chris Daniels 9-30; Rink 4: Kevin Embling, Dave Matthews, Chris Cheesley and Ian Jefferies beat Clive Bumford 23-18; Rink 5: Kyle Anderson, Dan Hoskin, Mel Biggs and Neil Smith beat Peter Ward 27-12.

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

Plymouth 98 Carterton 58; WESTLECOT 87 Bournemouth 76.

Final due to be played at Westlecot on April 20.