NEIL HOPE is out of the Welsh International Masters but only after a brave battle.

The 25-year-old Westlecot player, competing in front of the television cameras for the first time, was beaten 8-6 9-4 in the second round in Llanelli by the vastly experienced Welshman Robert Weale.

Both players struggled for length on the portable indoor rink and blue mat.

However, Hope, a qualifier, made the better start and led the ex-world indoor champion and number six seed 6-2 after five ends.

On the next though he was short with all four of his woods and conceded a three to only lead 6-5 and this sixth end proved to be the turning point in the match.

Weale took the mat up the rink and opting for a short jack his ploy worked to perfection.

The Welshman followed his three shots by winning the next six successive ends with a run of three singles to take the first set 8-6.

And he opened the second set with a single and two twos to go five-nil up.

Hope stopped the run with a superb last wood on the fourth end to draw a single and then added a two on the next to cut the gap to 5-3.

However, he then dropped successive twos to go 9-3 down after seven ends.

The finish came on the next end when Hope's weighted wood was on target but unluckily only gave him a single.

"It was very warm out there under the television lights," said Hope, "but I have enjoyed the experience and would like to compete in this type of event again.

"We both seemed to struggle for length on the blue mat and of course I had difficulty on the short jacks Robert kept putting down.

"I made a good start to the match but lost the sixth end and was under pressure from then on."

Weale now meets England's Mark Royal in the quarter-finals who beat number two seed Alex Marshall in a tie breaker.