WESTLECOT overcame Avon Valley in a dramatic finale to reach the last 16 of the Egham Trophy, the national indoor mixed inter-club championship.

In a tense match throughout they snatched victory on the very last end with a count of two to win by a single shot and secure an 81-80 victory.

With two ends remaining the two sides were tied overall at 79-79.

Mel Biggs' rink, despite winning at home by seven shots, then dropped a shot on their 21st and final end.

That left Westlecot's hopes resting firmly on the shoulders of Dave Snell's away quartet in Warwick.

They were trailing 26-19 with just the last end of the match to go.

And it looked bleak as they were two shots down before No 3 Dave Vowles moved the jack and, with his two woods, Snell drew two shots to secure Westlecot a last-gasp win.

At home Westlecot were always ahead but it was a different tale away.

Biggs led 21-9 after 15 ends and 24-9 after 17 but that advantage was cut to only 24-17 on the last four ends.

Also at home, Mark Dyer's foursome were 13-8 up at 10 ends and 15-13 at 15 but were pegged back to 16-16 at 19. However, they then pulled in a three and a single for a four-shot win.

In Warwick the two Westlecot rinks struggled but fought back at the end.

Neil Smith was 14-9 down at 12 ends and 16-12 at 15 but managed to keep the deficit to only five shots.

Snell was 9-2 adrift after five ends and 13-10 down at 10. But trailed 24-14 at 18, however, they fought back including the vital two on the last end to only lose by five shots.

Westlecot will now face Jack High (Hayes, Middlesex), who beat Crystal Palace, in the last 16 on Sunday, February, 8.

Results

Home Rink 1: Wendy Anderson, Jenny Vowles, Neil Hope and Mel Biggs beat Alan Prew 24-17; Rink 2: Kevin Embling, Josie Lloyd, Doris Woodley and Mark Dyer beat A Smith 20-16.

Away Rink 1: Maureen Rogers, Mary Moss, Dave Vowles and Dave Snell lost to D Pope 21-26; Rink 2: Jean Bird, Joyce Laming, Hedley Bowen and Neil Smith lost to Greg Moon 16-21.

MICHAEL Richards of Thamesdown has gained a place at the Regional School of Excellence to be held at Mid-Gloucester IBC in April.

He secured the spot after beating clubmate Adam Marshall in the final of the English Bowls Youth Development Scheme knock-out competition held at Christie Miller IBC, Melksham, last Saturday.

Sixteen Wiltshire bowlers, all under the age of 18, took part in the knockout competition.

To reach this stage the youngsters had already competed in a round-robin competition at North Wilts, Chippenham, at the beginning of the month which featured 27 players from the five Wiltshire indoor clubs.

The next challenge for the Wiltshire Juniors will be a six-rink match against Devon on Sunday, February 8 at North Wilts (1.30pm).