CLARRIE Dunbar went close to causing a major upset in the national mixed Top Club competition on Sunday, writes DAVE EATON.

They pushed top Berkshire club, Desborough (Maidenhead), all the way in their fourth round (last 16) tie before going down 9-7 on points after a tense affair had ended 91 points each, both teams winning two of the five disciplines and drawing on the other.

Having beaten Swindon Westlecot, Clevedon and Bristol in previous rounds Dunbar made a fine start against Desborough, one of the strongest clubs in England and holders for the past three years of the national mixed inter-club Egham Trophy.

The early honours went Clarrie Dunbar’s way as Kathy Walker won her singles match 19-10 against former England international Theresa Dartnell- Langdon to collect two points then Keith Bailey drew his singles game to collect one point.

Leading 3-1 on points the pendulum then swung Desborough’s way as the Berkshire club edged home by two shots in the triples.

Despite a spirited comeback as they pulled nine shots back on the last four ends the trio of Kim Smith, Graham Shadwell and Russell Francis eventually lost by two shots with Desborough collecting four points for the triples win to go 5-3 up.

Clarrie now needed to collect six points from the last two disciplines – mixed pairs and mixed fours – to claim a famous victory.

Thelma Deane and Andy Colebrooke gave Clarrie hope in the pairs as Colebrooke, one down in the match and two on the end, with his last wood successfully pushed the jack back to two of his partner’s waiting bowls to claim victory, a vital four points and put Dunbar 7pts to 5 up.

Everything now hinged on the mixed fours but with seven dead ends already time was not on Clarrie’s side as the four-hour time limit approached and their quartet skipped by Neil Collett chased shots.

They eventually lost out by eight to give Desborough the crucial four points to edge home.

Desborough advance to the quarter-finals and will face Moonfleet (Weymouth) in the last eight of the Top Club competition.

RESULTS

Two Wood Singles (21 ends) - Ladies: Kathy Walker beat Theresa Dartnell-Langdon 19-10 (2pts). Men’s: Keith Bailey drew with Len Essex 13-13 (1pt).

Mixed Pairs: Thelma Deane & Andy Colebrooke beat Lorraine Woodley & John McGuinness 19-18 (4pts).

Mixed Triples: Kim Smith, Graham Shadwell & Russell Francis lost to Pat Holland, Michael Knight & Rob Newman 17-19 (0pts).

Mixed Fours: Marcia Hartley, Debbie Shadwell, Craig Doughty & Neil Collett lost to Eileen Devonald-Batt, Mary Price, Simon Jones & Alan Price 13-21 (19 ends and four hours - 0pts).

Score: Clarrie Dunbar 7pts (91shots) Desborough 9pts (91).

Clarrie Dunbar’s men powered on in the defence of their Wessex League title as they thrashed local rivals North Wilts lin their third central region match of the 2013/14 campaign.

They crushed North Wilts by 43 shots as they ran-out 97-54 victors but despite the big win, missed out on a maximum 16 points as they dropped two points with Keith Bailey’s rink at North Wilts losing by seven shots.

Clarrie controlled the match throughout overall leading across the board 22-10 at five ends, 48-26 at ten, 67-38 at 15 and 83-45 at 18 and finally recorded an emphatic 97-54 victory.

The biggest contribution to the 43 shots success was made by Andy Colebrooke’s rink who won their match 33-10.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 1: John Smith, Fred Pope, John Freeman & Duncan McGovern beat Trevor Cooke 22-11. Rink 2: Russell Milne, Alan Brown, Alan Colebrooke &Russell Francis beat Matt Clark 29-13.

Away - Rink 1: Andy Taylor, Brian Hawkins, Dale Taylor & Andy Colebrooke beat dave Williams 33-10. Rink 2: Dick Discombe, Trevor Batchelor, Glyn Jones & Keith Bailey lost to Chris Brown 13-20.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar 97 (14pts) North Wilts 54 (2pts).

CHRISTIE Miller produced an awesome performance in their latest central region match in the Wessex League as they thrashed Thornbury The Melksham side recorded a comprehensive 47 shots victory as they ran-out 98-51 winners and collected a maximum 16 points.

After a heavy first match defeat to Bristol the Miller have turned things around well and this second win in a row lifts them to third in the central table behind leaders Clarrie Dunbar and Bristol.

Christie Miller made a flying start and killed-off the game in the first ten ends leading 30-8 across the board at five ends and 54-16 at ten. The second half was much closer 44-35 in Christie’s favour.

The biggest victory was recorded by Dave Laws rink at home at Melksham who led 18-1 at ten ends and finally won by 15 shots.

The two away foursomes in Thornbury skipped by Paul Macdonald and Nigel Price both won by a healthy 13 and 12 shots margin respectively.

Andy Moore’s home rink had a much harder match coming from 6-3 and 9-7 down at five and ten ends to lead 20-12 at 18 and finally win 22-15.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 3: Paul Barnes, Sid Jay, Bob Pratt & Andy Moore beat C Luten 22-15. Rink 4: Tom Newman, David Hayward, Steve Gedge & Dave Laws beat Terry Winter-Alsop 25-10.

Away - Rink 3: John Bailey, Adrian Bolwell, Mike Savin & Paul Macdonald beat J Lowden 26-13. Rink 4: Chris Easton, Jim Roy, Gerard Archard & Nigel Price beat A Tregoning 25-13.

Score: Christie Miller 98 (16pts) Thornbury 51 (0pts).

OTHER RESULTS

Bristol 88 (13pts) Purnell 67 (3pts).

LATEST TABLE 1 Clarrie Dunbar P3 Pts43; 2 Bristol P3 Pts 32; 3 Christie Miller P3 Pts 30; 4 Purnell P3 Pts 18; 5 Nailsea P2 14pts; 6 Thornbury P2 Pts 4; 7 North Wilts P2 Pts 3.

NEXT FIXTURES

Sunday, January 5: Christie Miller v North Wilts; Nailsea v Bristol; Thornbury v Clarrie Dunbar.

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