RODBOURNE Cheney-based Swindon Manor are the only local indoor club still left with an interest in a national team competition.

Manor ladies are through to the last 32 in the consolation Yetton Plate competition and face West Berks (Newbury) on December 7, with two rinks at home and two away in Greenham.

They qualified for third round following a narrow 70-68 success over another Berkshire side, Rivermead (Reading).

However, Westlecot’s participation in national team competitions ended over the past seven days when both the ladies and men’s teams exited from the Mason Trophy and O60s double rinks competitions respectively.

The ladies lost on both rinks in the Mason Trophy, going down 42-28 to Berkshire side Desborough (Maidenhead).

Janet Willis’ quartet lost 20-16 to Mary Price and Patricia Murray’s rink went down 22-12 to Lorraine Woodley.

On Tuesday, the men also lost to Desborough A 37-25 in the O60s double rinks competition.

In national indoor competitions, Westlecot’s Neil Smith has reached the Area 14 final in the champion of champions competition.

He plays Robert Newman (Whiteknights, Reading) at West Berks IBC (Newbury) on December 4, with a place in the last 16 and final stages of the competition early next year at Warner Leisure Lakeside, Hayling Island the prize for the winner.

All the other men’s and ladies’ national competitions have only reached the last 32 at best, except for ladies champion of champions events.

MANOR men’s poor start to the season in the Wessex League continued last Sunday as they lost 93-63 to Oxford City & County in their third Thames region group match of the campaign.

However, they picked up some points for the very first time this season, with Barry Romain’s rink edging home 19-18 to collect two points.

Richard Young just missed out on another two points, losing 22-23, but Steve Rose (27-12) and Josh Fail (25-10) both lost.

Basement club Manor’s next game is against Basingstoke Hampshire side Loddon Vale on December 15, while Westlecot play on December 8 against Oxford City & County.