WESTLECOT men took the honours as the new 2019/2020 Wessex League indoor season kicked-off in the seven team Thames region, with the local derby match between Swindon Old Town club, Westlecot and Rodbourne Cheney-based Swindon Manor.

Thames regional winners last season from Oxford City and County, the Old Town club was in fine form against rivals Swindon Manor.

Westlecot thumped Manor by 34 shots as they ran-out as 98-64 winners taking the plaudits on all four rinks to notch a maximum 16 points.

Top rink honours for Westlecot went to the foursome led by Mike Titcombe, who defeated Josh Fail’s four 26-12.

Chris Cheesley’s quartet beat Steve Rose’s rink 24-16 while Kyle Anderson’s quartet beat Stuart Murray’s rink 24-19.

The Westlecot clean sweep was completed when Dave Godwin’s foursome notched a 24-17 success over Brian Romain’s team.

The victory and 16 points extended Westlecot’s unbeaten run in the Thames region to seven matches as they were unbeaten last season.

However, Westlecot’s unbeaten Wessex run in the Thames region came to an abrupt end last Sunday as, fielding a depleted side, they lost 85-69 to Basingstoke side Loddon Vale despite sharing the rink honours 2-2.

John Thomas’s rink won at home 23-16 while Mike Titcombe’s quartet won away in Hampshire 22-20.

But the plus nine shots failed to wipe out the eight shots defeat suffered by Chris Cheesley’s away rink (22-14) and decisively the 27-10 reverse suffered by Tom Pittuck’s foursome at Westlecot.

This Sunday sees Swindon Manor contest their second Thames region match of the new season when they face West Berks (Newbury).

RESULTS (to date) Westlecot 98 (16pts) Swindon Manor 64 (0pts); Oxford City & County 98 (15) Oxford & District 74 (1); Rivermead (Reading) 62 (2) West Berks (Newbury) 92 (14); Loddon Vale 85 (12) Westlecot 69 (4); Rivermead 65 (4) Oxford & D 97 (12).

FIXTURES Nov 10: Swindon Manor v West Berks Nov 24: Oxford C&C v Swindon Manor Dec 01: Rivermead v Loddon Vale Dec 08: Oxford C&C v Westlecot Dec 15: Loddon Vale v Swindon Manor; Oxford &D v West Berks NATIONAL team competitions for the new season have already commenced in the men’s Denny Cup and ladies Yetton Trophy, inter-club championship (two rinks home and two rinks away) .

Swindon Manor and Westlecot were drawn against each other last Saturday in the second round of the Yetton Trophy after both had received first round byes. Westlecot emerging as 87-64 victors.

This was the only national team event that Manor entered once more.

The match was in fact decided on the two rinks played at Westlecot, as the two rinks played in Rodbourne at the Manor drew 40-40 overall.

Janet Willis beating Susan Griffiths 22-19 and Babs Twine losing to Laura Laytham 18-21.

Old Town club Westlecot certainly made home advantage and knowledge of their recently installed new bowls carpet pay off.

The foursome of Angela Harrison, Lynne Plant, Julia Hunt and skip Judy Hallard leading from start to finish to beat Deanne Davis’ quartet 25-11 while Ann Haunton, Kay Webb, Sue Fletcher and skip Linda Perfitt trailed a couple of times but finally ran-out convincing 22-13 winners over Eileen Oliver’s rink.

In round three, Westlecot have been drawn against Handy Cross (High Wycombe, Bucks) next Saturday, November 16 – two rinks home and two rinks away. In the last round Handy Cross beat Rivermead 98-39.

At the same time as the Yetton Trophy match, Westlecot men were playing Desborough (Maidenhead) in round two of the Denny Cup.

After a closely fought 76-70 win over Brackley a fortnight earlier, Westlecot were involved in another closely fought encounter, this time against Desborough which needed two extra ends to settle the match.

Dave Godwin’s home rink came back from 8-14 down at 14 ends to draw 16-16 while Mike Titcombe’s foursome of Kevin Embling, Graham Richards, Paul Kistle and himself turned their match around from 8-11 down at 13 ends to win 20-14 at 21 ends.

Away in Maidenhead, Kyle Anderson’s quartet trailed 7-14 at 12 ends but fought back to only lose 15-19.

The other match featuring John Anderson, Gary Plant, Terry Walton and Andy McIntyre they only lost 16-18 and were the four nominated for the extra end after the overall scores were tied 67-67 (36-30 at Westlecot and 31-37 at Desborough).

The first extra end was killed but on the second skip McIntyre with his last wood drew to a few inches of the ditch and the jack nestling in it gave Westlecot the shot and a final scoreline of 68-67.

Westlecot move forward to round three and another meeting with a Berkshire powerhouse. Instead of Desborough this time around it is Reading side Whiteknights (Earley) on November 16.

MANOR ladies are entered in the second chance consolation Yetton Plate following their 87-64 loss to Westlecot.

They play Reading side Rivermead next Saturday in round two.

MIXED national team competitions have seen Westlecot concede an Egham Trophy tie to previous winners Desborough (M).

But after a fine run in the Top Club last season when they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Exonia (Exeter), Westlecot are through this season to the third round.

They received a first round bye and then beat East Dorset and now face Bournemouth at home on Sunday November 17.