WESTLECOT failed in their bid to book a place in the Wessex League play-offs final.

They lost out in the semi-finals when beaten 90-75 by Plymouth on the neutral green at Donyatt (Ilminster).

Apart from the opening exchanges when they led 22-19 across the board after five ends Westlecot were always chasing the game.

A turnaround of 20 shots in the next five ends basically sealed their fate as they trailed 50-33 at 10 ends.

The Swindon club only took the honours on one of the four rinks with Neil Hope's quartet recording a nine-shot success.

In sharp contrast, father Martin's rink went down 14-25, the biggest loss.

Howard Pryse's quartet were 8-5 down after five ends and were always adrift finally losing by eight shots.

Martin Hope's rink collected singles on the first three ends but then dropped a six and always trailed. They were 15-6 down at 10 ends and finally lost by 11 shots.

England junior international Neil Hope led 9-1 after four ends and 14-9 at 10. Then, aided by a five on the 15th, his rink moved into a 23-10 lead.

Plymouth pegged them back slightly in the latter stages but Hope still won by nine shots.

Mark Wadsworth's rink made a fine start but still lost. They led 5-0 at five ends but then dropped fives on the fifth and seventh ends and were 14-7 and 20-12 down at 10 and 15 ends. But they rallied and aided by a five on the 17th cut the final loss to five shots.

Results

Rink 2: Paul Kistle, Shane Stevenson, Dave Matthews and Howard Pryse lost to Stuart Evans 13-21.

Rink 3: John Thomas, Jeff Nichols, Tony Rivers and Martin Hope lost to Mike Avent 14-25.

Rink 4: Mike Hall, Mike Shawyer, Dave Vowles and Neil Hope beat Bill Pridham 26-17.

Rink 5: Bob George, Reg Wadsworth, John Williamson and Mark Wadsworth lost to Dave Willis 22-27.

NORTH WILTS (Chippenham) were beaten 82-76 in the other semi-final staged at Bristol IBC.

Plymouth and Bromsgove will therefore meet in the Wessex League final on Sunday, April 6 at Fosseway (Midsomer Norton).

DESPITE the Wessex League loss the indoor season still has three more weeks to run for the Westlecot men and the chance of national glory.

They have representatives competing in all four of the top events, singles, pairs, triples and fours, in the EIBA Championships that start in Melton Mowbray on April 5.

And the men have reached the last 16 of the Famous Grouse Top Ten competition atDarlington over the four-day Easter period.

WILTSHIRE Bowls Association open their outdoor season on May 4 with a friendly at Cricklade against Swindon & District League.

The following weekend they have two Middleton Cup trial matches scheduled for May 10 and 11 against Somerset and Oxfordshire, at Bath and Banbury respectively.

And another Middleton Cup trial against Hampshire will be played at Wootton Bassett on Sunday, May 18.