CLARRIE DUNBAR men endured mixed results last weekend against Bristol in the Denny Cup and Wessex League, writes DAVE EATON.

They beat them on the Saturday 85-69 in the Denny Cup, national inter-club four rink championship, but 24 hours later lost out to Bristol by four shots in the Wessex League.

In the Denny Cup Clarrie led across the board throughout but the roles were reversed the next day when the two sides clashed in the central section of the Wessex League.

Clarrie’s success in their third round Denny Cup match was certainly built around two fine performances in Bristol where Russell Francis’ rink and Steve Wiltshire’s foursome led throughout to record ten and five shot wins respectively.

However at home at Clarrie it was a different tale as Andy Colebrooke’s rink and Keith Bailey’s four were trailing 1-5 and 1-6 respectively at five ends.

Colebrooke’s foursome turned it around to lead 9-6 at ten ends and 17-9 at 15 before finally winning by two shots.

But Bailey’s rink struggled for most of their game and were 4-13 down at ten ends and 9-16 at 15 but then staged a recovery to hit right back and only lose 19-20.

Clarrie Dunbar face a stiff task in the fourth round (last 32) as they have been paired with Desborough (Maidenhead) who reached the semi-finals of the competition last season.

However, they were unable to repeat their Saturday success over Bristol again 24 hours later.

Clarrie fielded 23 of the players from the previous day and Bristol 21, albeit both in changed rink ups for their Wessex League clash.

But on this occasion, although the games were shared 2-2, it was Bristol who took the plaudits with a four shots win as they ran-out 77-73 victors and collected 12 points out of the 16 on offer.

Consequently Clarrie slipped to second in the central regional table and ten points behind local rivals North Wilts (Chippenham).

Russell Francis had recorded the biggest win in Bristol on the Saturday but in the Wessex match his rink struggled all match and were 8-19 down at 15 ends and finally lost 13-21.

This eight shots loss proved decisive in the final analysis.

However, Steve Wiltshire recorded his second away win of the weekend at Bristol with a three shots win.

At Clarrie, roles were reversed from the Saturday with Keith Bailey winning by two shots despite holding a 14-5 lead at ten ends, while Andy Colebrooke lost by one shot on the last end.

Christie Miller also tasted defeat in the second round matches.

They took the honours on two of the four rinks but lost to Nailsea by ten shots as they went down overall 93-83.

Their problems were at home where David Laws rink were always trailing and lost by 13 shots while Brian Routledge’s four were adrift until a remarkable turnaround at the end of their match.

Routledge was 17-22 down but picked-up a big count of six on the 21st and last end to snatch a last gasp one shot win.

Away at Nailsea, Nigel Price’s foursome made a flying start to lead 10-0 but trailed 13-16 at ten ends only to pull away again to an eight shots success.

However, alongside roles were reversed as Paul Macdonald’s rink held a narrow 12-11 lead at ten ends and 16-15 at 15 but then faded and finally lost by six shots.

In the third round of central region matches in the Wessex League Clarrie Dunbar will face North Wilts on Sunday, December 9.

On Sunday, Clarrie’s mixed team face Clevedon in the Egham Trophy and next Thursday, November 29, Clarrie Ladies meet Thornbury in a second round Yetton Trophy tie.

Meanwhile six Clarrie players - Keith Bailey, Andy Colebrooke, Craig Doughty, Russell Francis, Terry Perkins and Steve Wiltshire - are named in the Somerset men’s team to play Worcestershire tomorrow (Saturday) in the second round of the Liberty Trophy, inter-county championship, at Bristol IBC (10am).

DENNY CUP RESULTS

Clarrie Dunbar v Bristol

Home - Rink 1: P Hooley, J Hornby, M Sawyers & Andy Colebrooke beat Barry Barry 19-17. Rink 2: J Freeman, K Brixey, D McGovern & Keith Bailey lost to Paul Bryant 19-20. Away - Rink 1: M Maslen, B Hawkins, C Doughty & Steve Wiltshire beat Eric Seavill 20-15. Rink 2: D Discombe, T Batch, F Pope & Russell Francis beat Paul Birmingham 27-17.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Bristol 85-69.

WESSEX LEAGUE RESULTS

Clarrie Dunbar v Bristol

Home - Rink 1: M Maslen, J Hornby, M Sawyers & A Colebrooke lost to Paul Birmingham 17-18. Rink 2: J Freeman, K Brixey, D McGovern & Keith Bailey beat Eric Seavill 21-19. Away - Rink 1: A Shadwell, B Hawkins, C Doughty & Steve Wiltshire beat B Barry 22-19. Rink 2: D Discombe, P Hooley, F Pope & Russell Francis lost to Paul Bryant 13-21.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar lost to Bristol 73-77 and by 4pts-12.

Christie Miller v Nailsea

Home - Rink 1: T Newman, P Barnes, R Pratt & Brian Routledge beat D Gregory 23-22. Rink 3: K Hicketts, S Gedge, D Hayward & David Laws lost to J Couch 15-28. Away - Rink 1: M Savin, S Jay, D Godwin & Paul Macdonald lost to B Holloway 18-24. Rink 3: C Easton, A Bolwell, G Archard & Nigel Price beat S Secker 27-19.

Score: Christie Miller lost to Nailsea 83-93 and by 4pts-12.

TROWBRIDGE bowler Graham Shadwell has qualified for the final stages in the Champion of Champions national competition to be held at Warner Lakeside, Hayling Island, in early February next year.

On the eve of his departure for Australia to represent England in the World Outdoor Championships, the Clarrie Dunbar ace sealed his place in the last 16 at hayling Island last Thursday evening.

Shadwell, the Area 30 winner, thrashed Area 29 champion Barry Forse (Weston St Andrew) recording a 21-6 success in the inter-area final staged at Taunton Deane.

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