Thamesdown and Westlecot eye town derby

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Saturday 1st Mar 2003.

SWINDON'S two indoor bowls clubs, Thamesdown and Westlecot, clash tomorrow in a vital Wessex League match (10am).

Thamesdown, who are based at the Oasis Leisure Centre, made a fine start to their Wessex League campaign and led the East Region group after two rounds of matches.

But a slump in fortunes has seen them slip down the table to fifth place after six games and in grave danger of not reaching the play-offs.

A win in this final group game is a must in order to try and keep Thamesdown's play-off hopes alive.

In sharp contrast Westlecot made a poor start and only had five points after their opening two games.

However, a change in fortunes with a run of four successive victories has seen them steadily rise up the East Region table into third place and they are almost certain to book a last 16 place and play-offs spot.

Westlecot are only three points behind leaders Carterton and two adrift of Oxford and District who meet in a top of the table clash this weekend.

TEAMS

At the Oasis

Thamesdown: Ken Roe, Ernie Stevens, Maurice Stow and Dave Woodbridge (skip). Brian Stokes, Harry Langley, Arthur Baker and Dave Jones (skip).

Westlecot: Barry Sictorness, Mike Hall, Dave Matthews and Ian Jefferies (skip). Bob Scammell, Ian Thomas, Tony Rivers and Martin Hope (skip). Reserve Jeff Nichols.

At Westlecot

Thamesdown: Dave Royle, Cec Exton, Malcolm Curtis and Alan Willis (skip). Chris Purbrick, Mike Rae, Roy Carter and Gar Morphet (skip).

Westlecot: John Thomas, Matthew Webster, Dave Vowles and Mel Biggs (skip). Shari Akhavan, Shane Stevenson, Hedley Bowen and Neil Hope (skip). Reserve Bob George.

Current table (all from six games): 1 Carterton 74pts, 2 Oxford & District 73, 3 Westlecot 71, 4 West Berks 60, 5 Thamesdown 54, 6 Rivermead 24, 7 Fairford 16, 8 Oxford C&C 12.

NORTH WILTS trio of Roy Baker, Nick Grenfell and Barney Fernandes made a swift exit in the Over 50s National Triples finals in Northampton.

In their last-32 match they lost heavily, going down 32-10 to Stanley (Co Durham), who then lost 16-15 on the last end to Perdiswell in the next round.

WESTLECOT will have two ladies teams bidding for glory next week in the English Women's National Indoor Championships being staged at Lodden Vale (Basingstoke).

On Tuesday Wendy Anderson and Gill Webb, play their opening game in the last 16 of the Women's National Pairs.

Webb replaces Jean Bird, who has competed in all of the previous rounds, but has had to withdraw from the finals.

On Friday Westlecot, who were beaten semi-finalists last year, compete in the last four of the Women's Over 60s National Double Rinks.

Bird was also a member of this team but has pulled out. Josie Lloyd, who missed the last quarter-final win over Sevenoaks, returns to replace Bird, but the rink line-ups have been changed.

Team: Joyce Laming, Brenda Cars, Wendy Anderson and Doris Woodley (skip). Maureen Rogers, Peggy Oakes, Josie Lloyd and Val Mortimer (skip).

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