CLARRIE Dunbar booked their place in the last 32 of the Egham Trophy with an eight-shot win over Clevedon in a third round tie last weekend, writes DAVE EATON.

They defeated the Somerset side, who had beaten North Wilts in the previous round, 78-70 and won on three of the four rinks.

The victory was built on a solid home performance as the mixed rinks skipped by both Russell Francis (nine shots) and Andy Colebrooke (six shots), produced a plus 15 shots advantage.

This added to an eight shots away win at Clevedon by Keith Bailey’s foursome easily compensated for Mike Sawkers’ quartet going down away by 15 shots.

Clarrie progress to round four against Ilminster this Sunday. They will be looking for revenge and a fifth round spot in the competition as they lost 88-69 to Ilminster at the same stage last season.

RESULTS

Egham v Clevedon

Home - Rink 1: Debbie Shadwell, Kim Smith, Terry Perkins & Andy Colebrooke beat G Jay 19-13. Rink 2: Kathy Walker, Teresa King, Dick Discombe & Russell Francis beat N Pearse 25-16.

Away - Rink 1: Sadie Farrell, Ann Jones, John Freeman & Keith Bailey beat S Withers 22-14. Rink 2: Thelma Deane, Marcia Hartley, Brian Hawkins & Mike Sawyers lost to J Hick 12-27.

Scores: Clarrie Dunbar beat Clevedon 78-70.

THE EGHAM Trophy match against Ilminster this Sunday brings to an end an important four days of national championship competitions for Clarrie Dunbar men’s, ladies and mixed teams in national inter-club four rink championship events.

Yesterday (Thursday) afternoon the ladies side were due to meet Thornbury in round two of the Yetton Trophy.

In the last round Clarrie beat Purnell 85-73 while Thornbury thrashed near rivals Nailsea 119-52.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the Clarrie Dunbar men’s side face an extremely tough fourth round (last 32) match against Desborough (Maidenhead) who lost in last season’s semi-finals.

Clarrie have already beaten Clevedon, Purnell and Bristol in this competition and will be seeking a fourth scalp, but will not have their star player Graham Shadwell available as he is away in Adelaide, Australia, playing for England in the 2012 World Outdoor Championships.

SIX Clarrie Dunbar players made significant contributions as Somerset men beat Worcestershire 119-96 in a second round Liberty Trophy tie.

Keith Bailey, Andy Colebrooke, Craig Doughty, Russell Francis, Terry Perkins and Steve Wiltshire all played in the match held at the City and County Bristol Indoor rink with Colebrooke, Francis, Perkins and Wiltshire skipping on four of the six rinks.

Somerset won by 23 shots and took the honours on four of the rinks with Francis’ skipping his quartet to the highest winning margin of 24-13 while Perkins’ rink that included Bailey and Doughty won 22-13.

Colebrooke and Wiltshire’s foursome both suffered narrow one and four shot losses respectively.

These six players together with the returning Graham Shadwell will be looking forward to a quarter-final tie against Essex in the next round on Saturday, January 12 at a neutral venue.

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