WESTLECOT ladies just failed to retain their National Over 60s Double Rinks title.

They were beaten by one shot by Thornaby in the final held at Loddon Vale (Basingstoke), going down 44-43 to the north-east club.

Westlecot were always trailing overall but a late rally from Doris Woodley's rink, with eight shots in the last three ends, cut the deficit to one shot and provided a tense finish.

But Josie Lloyd's quartet struggled.

Westlecot were 15 shots down after only five ends but had fought back to cut the deficit to seven at 10. However, they were still seven shots down at 18 ends before rallying.

In the semi-finals Westlecot beat Arun & District 39-36, with Lloyd winning 23-20 and Woodley drawing 16-16.

Final result: Lloyd lost 17-27; Woodley won 26-17.

n NEIL HOPE and Kevin Embling will be Westlecot's only representatives in the EIBA men's national finals in Melton Mowbray later this month.

The duo beat Dennis Noble and his partner Richard Turvey (Whitchurch) 25-18 in the area 32 final to book their place in the last stages of the pairs competition.

Neil Smith just missed out on a place in the singles, losing 21-15 in the area final to Paul Bryant (Thornbury).

North Wilts supply the representatives in both the triples and fours competitions.

Westlecot bowed out of the Wessex League play-offs losing 96-72 to MidGlos, Neil Hope's away rink being successful with a four-shot win.