Westlecot's bowlers face two crucial battles (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Westlecot's bowlers face two crucial battles

The Westlecot men's indoor section faces another important time this weekend.

Today they compete in the regional play-off finals in the Famous Grouse Top Ten competition.

Tomorrow they meet local rivals Thamesdown in a crucial Wessex League East Region group match.

Westlecot have already won Group J in the Top Ten competition but now go into a regional play-off to qualify for the last 16 of the tournament.

They play Group L runners-up Banister Park (Eastleigh, Hants), with the winners booking a place in the final stages to be held in Darlington over Easter, April 9-12.

This is the fourth year of the competition, with Westlecot having reached Darlington twice before in the Famous Grouse Top Ten in 2001 and 2003 they did not compete in the 2002 competition.

Unbeaten in their group matches this year, they are slight favourites to overcome their Hampshire opponents and reach Darlington for a third time.

The team for today contains those players that are available for Darlington if qualification is realised.

Team

Home: Singles: Neil Smith. Fours: Jamie Titcombe, Jeff Nichols, Hedley Bowen and Mel Biggs.

Away: Pairs: John Thomas and Dave Snell. Triples: Kevin Embling, David Vowles and Neil Hope.

WESTLECOT men face a much harder challenge if they are to reach the last 16 in the Wessex League play-offs.

Tomorrow they play local rivals Thamesdown, who only have pride at stake.

However, it is a crucial game for Westlecot who must win on all four rinks two at home and two at the Oasis.

A maximum 16 points would guarantee them third place in the East Region group table, but it may not necessarily be enough for one of four wild cards in the end of season play-offs.

There are six groups with the top two in each moving forward, but only four of the six third-placed teams will be awarded a wild card.

Westlecot must win handsomely, and it will then depend on results elsewhere.

Thamesdown have yet to finalise their side, but Westlecot's team is:

Home

Rink 1: Kevin Embling, Mike Shawyer, Jeff Nichols and Mel Biggs. Rink 2: John Thomas, Jamie Titcombe, Dave Vowles and Neil Hope.

Away

Rink 1: Dave Wheeldon, Tony Rivers, Hedley Bowen and Neil Smith. Rink 2: Bob George, Dave Matthews, Tony Stevenson and Martin Hope.