WESTLECOT Ladies were pipped at the post in a tense and dramatic national inter-club championship match that went right down to the wire.

After looking favourites for victory for a fair proportion of their Yetton Trophy sub zone final they eventually lost out to MidGlos on an extra end.

Although they held a very comfortable 45-27 advantage after 10 ends they were pegged back to a final overall scoreline of 77-77.

However, on the extra end played at MidGlos it was the home rink, skipped by Margaret Reeves, that sealed the match beating Wendy Anderson's quartet by one shot.

Honours were shared on the four rinks with Westlecot taking the plaudits at home as Doris Woodley and Janet Willis skipped their quartets to victory but away despite a fine start both Wendy Anderson and Josie Lloyd lost.

Doris Woodley was always in command of her home match and her foursome opened up a massive 16-4 lead at 10 ends and went on to a 24-14 success.

Alongside Janet Willis recovered from 7-6 down at five ends to lead 13-8 at 10 and 17-10 at 14.

But then had to combat a fightback from her opponents before holding on for a 24-21 win.

Away, Anderson and Lloyd were 8-8 and 8-7 up respectively at 10 ends, but then the wheels came off.

In the next five ends they collected one shot between them but conceded a massive 18 shots which turned the match on its head.

From then on it was tight overall with the lead ebbing and flowing but with Westlecot just about keeping their noses in front until the death.

The Woodley match at home had finished as had the two away rinks with just the Willis match to complete.

On the 20th end the MidGlos skip killed the end but on the re-spotted jack conceded a four so Westlecot led by two shots overall with one to go.

However, on the 21st and last end Willis trailed by four but managed, with her last wood, to get third shot and only drop two shots.

This meant the sub zone final was tied overall at 77-77 but unfortunately on the extra end Westlecot dipped out.

Results Home: Rink 1: Jean Bird, Joyce Laming, Brenda Cars and Doris Woodley beat Maryan Pye 24-14.

Rink 2: Ellen Bolland, Gaynor Tanner, Anne Hayward and Janet Willis beat Pauline Gunn 24-21.

Away Rink 1: Jill Webb, Jenny Vowles, Babs Salter and Wendy Anderson lost to Margaret Reeves 15-20.

Rink 2: Maureen Rogers, Audrey Whatley, Mary Moss and Josie Lloyd lost to Margaret Stalley 14-22.

Westlecot drew 77-77 with MidGlos but lost by one shot on extra end.

TODAY Westlecot men will be hoping for better fortunes in their national inter club championship match.

They face Desborough (Maidenhead) in the last 16 of the Denny Cup with the prize of a quarter-final tie against either Cumbria (Carlisle) or Barwell (Leicestershire) awaiting the victors.

TOMORROW the men's Wessex League squad will be seeking to extend their fine start to the 2004/05 Wessex campaign when they meet Oxford City & County in a crucial match.

Westlecot are the only unbeaten side in their eight team East Region section having won all three of their opening matches but put that record on the line tomorrow as they face second placed Oxford C & C.

Team Home, Rink 1: Mike Hall, Peter Cottle, Dave Vowles and Dave Snell; Rink 2: Paul Kistle, Jamie Titcombe, Mike Shawyer and Mike Jackson.

Away Rink 1: Bob George, Roy Major, Tony Rivers and Hedley Bowen; Rink 2: John Thomas, Frank Gardiner, Tony Stevenson and Chris Cheesley.