TWICE in the space of 48 hours Westlecot teams have suffered heartache in national inter-club championship competitions.

On Thursday, the ladies lost their sub-zone final in the Yetton Trophy against MidGlos on an extra end, then on Saturday the men suffered a similar fate at the hands of Desborough (Maidenhead) in their sixth round, last 16, Denny Cup tie.

The Desborough side, containing a handful of senior and junior men's internationals, made a flying start to lead 41-21 at 10 ends.

The deficit was cut to 43-51 at 15 ends and 56-58 at 18 ends, before Neil Hope's rink, the only one left playing, collected a single on the 20th end and a three on the 21st for a four shot win and snatch a last gasp overall tie at 67-67.

Hope's joy though turned to agony as his rink saw their strong position in the first attempt at the extra end killed and then lost on the re-spotted jack to give Desborough a quarter-final tie against Barwell.

At home, Mel Biggs' quartet came from 13-6 down at 10 ends to lead 17-16 at 18 but lost by one shot.

Hope's rink were 7-4 down at 10 ends but had moved 15-13 ahead at 18 and won by four shots.

Away at Desborough it was a hard struggle early on with both Ian Jefferies 12-4 and Neil Smith 9-7 down at 10 ends.

Smith turned his game around to lead 13-11 at 15 and record a one-shot win.

But Jefferies went 16-6 down at 15 ends but then a great rival at the end saw his rink register another eight shots and only concede two to cut the loss to four shots and give Westlecot hope.

"I am very proud of our performance, the only thing wrong was the result," said captain Neil Smith.

"We showed great fighting spirit, pulling back from 20 shots down to level at 60-60 and then again to level at 67 each for an extra end.

"One of these days it will go for us, we were just very unfortunate again.

"I still believe one year we will win it."

RESULTS

Home

Rink 1: John Thomas, Jamie Titcombe, Mike Jackson and Mel Biggs lost to John McGuinness 18-19.

Rink 2: Kevin Embling, David Vowles, Graham Hatherall and Neil Hope beat Peter McGuinness 19-15.

Away

Rink 1: Hedley Bowen, Chris Cheesley, Dave Snell and Neil Smith beat Dave Simpson 16-15.

Rink 2: Barry Sictorness, John Williamson, Gary Morphett and Ian Jefferies lost to Alan Price 14-18.

Westlecot drew 67-67 with Desborough but lost on the extra end.

WINNERS of the Mason Trophy in 2003 and runners-up last year, Westlecot Ladies are through to the last 16 again.

The Over 60s Double Rinks team will face Croydon on the neutral green at Whiteknights (Reading) on Sunday, January 23 (10am).