THE ARCTIC weather that gripped Britain last week caused havoc with the planned national bowls fixture list.

Westlecot were badly hit, with their mixed David Cornwell U25 Two Rink triples quarter-finals tie against Torquay United scheduled to be played at Bristol City and County IBC postponed.

No new date for the clash featuring the two rinks of George Twine, Lucy Smith and Kyle Anderson (captain) as well as the trio of Katy Smith, Phil Gregory and Mike Titcombe has yet been announced.

Wiltshire men’s biggest game in the inter-county championship for the Liberty Trophy for 21 years at Whiteknights IBC, Reading, on Saturday morning in the semi-finals against Kent was also postponed.

The English Indoor Bowling Association (EIBA) has now decided to incorporate the two semis into the programme of events being held at Nottingham from April 7-16.

The two semi-finals will be held on April 14 with the Liberty final the following morning on Sunday April 15 (9.30am).

The senior men’s (Over 60) inter club double rink fifth round (last 16) tie against Plymouth at Taunton Deane on Tuesday lunchtime did go ahead but there was no joy for Westlecot, who lost by 10 shots (36-26).

The rink of Kevin Embling, Geoff Smith, Dave Snell and skipped by Mel Biggs made a bad start and were 11-0 down after five ends. They were not able to claw the deficit back significantly, losing 11-20.

The other foursome of Denis Holborow, Dave Matthews, Hedley Bowen and Terry Walton (skip) were involved in a tight match throughout with the lead on their green changing hands numerous times.

After nine ends they were tied 8-8 and scored a three on the next to lead 11-8 but were pulled back to 11-11 at 12 ends, 12-12 at 14 and 14-14 at 16 before finally losing 15-16.

Overall, Westlecot trailed from the outset 3-17 at five ends, 18-23 at ten, 24-31at 15 and finally lost 26-36.

Plymouth move forward to the semi-finals and final of the Over 60 inter club double rink competition being staged at Nottingham on April 12-13.

Some of the planned finals in Area 14 which incorporates the indoor clubs at Westlecot and Swindon Manor plus Oxfordshire and Berkshire clubs in both the men's and ladies competitions were also postponed.

The ladies area 14 pairs final at Loddon Vale (Basingstoke) was postponed last week but rearranged for Thursday evening at the same venue.

It resulted in the Smith sisters Lucy and Katy (Westlecot) recording a comprehensive 23-5 victory in the area pairs final over Helen Jones and Eileen Devonald-Batt (Desborough, Maidenhead).

Junior England U25 internationals, Lucy 22, and Katy 21, booked a place in the main ladies pairs final at the national championship final stages (last 16) for only the second time in their short bowls career at Melton & District from March 28-29.

The Area 14 triples final between the Smith sisters and Jayne Croston (Westlecot) against Caroline Mabley’s trio from Reading club Whiteknights was postponed at Loddon Vale (Basingstoke) on March 1 but rearranged for last night (Friday) at Loddon again.

The men’s section saw Mike Titcombe beat England international Rob Newman (Whiteknights) 21-13 to book his first major last 16 spot.

But Newman hit back in the pairs area 14 final with Michael Knights in a match switched from Loddon Vale to Oxford C&C on Sunday, defeating Westlecot duo Chris Cheesley and Neil Smith 18-10.

Smith together with Mel Biggs and Ian Jefferies beat Barry Williams trio from West Berks in the area 14 men’s triples final at Loddon Vale.

Meanwhile in two other Area 14 finals yet to be staged, Denis Holborow, Dave Snell, Terry Walton and Mel Biggs have to meet Barry Williams four from West Berks in the Over 60s fours final at Oxford City and County on March 12.

Tom Pittuck and his dad Barry (Westlecot) have to play Paul and Joe Justin (Carterton) in the area 14 family pairs final at Oxford C&C on Saturday March 17 (10am).

In the Wessex League, Westlecot were awarded a walkover as Torquay United (Devon) conceded the tie on Thursday.

In the only match that was played Atherley (Southampton), a wildcard entrant from the coastal region beat Basingstoke’s Loddon Vale, winners of Westlecot’s east region 88-57.

Sunday will see the outstanding six first-round matches being played with next Sunday, March 18, staging the quarter-finals.

Westlecot having been awarded a walkover progress to the quarter-finals and will face the winners of Clarrie Dunbar (Standerwick, Somerset) and Bromsgrove (Worcestershire) on March 18.