CLARRIE Dunbar sealed their place in the Wessex League end of season play-offs as Christie Miller endured mixed fortunes in their quest to clinch a play-offs wild card, writes DAVE EATON.

A thumping 122-60 victory over Nailsea ensured Clarrie Dunbar of at least second spot in the Central Region table with one match to play – on Sunday against Weston St Andrews – and still with the chance of catching Bristol for top spot on shots difference.

Miller had to give second best to Bristol in their delayed match on Saturday but bounced back 24 hours later with a comfortable victory over Weston St Andrews to keep alive their slim chance of securing one of the four play-off wild cards.

Two of Christie Miller’s rinks against Bristol were played much earlier in the season and had resulted in the honours being shared in Melksham.

However, in the outstanding away games at Bristol on Saturday both fours teams lost resulting in a heavy 95-53 defeat and only two points – thanks to the winning effort by Andy Moore’s rink – out of a possible 16.

Christie dominated the match against Weston St Andrews winning 99-52 and collecting 14 out of a possible 16 points.

At Melksham, Moore was always in control and 21-3 up at 15 ends and eventual won by 15 shots while Brian Routledge’s rink led from start to finish and took the spoils by a margin of nine shots.

In Weston-Super-Mare, Nigel Price’s foursome were in devastating form scoring 30 shots and only conceding five singles.

Paul Macdonald’s quartet struggled early on and were 10-0 down at three ends but rallied to only trail 11-13 at ten ends.

They briefly led 17-16 after 16 ends but were finally pipped on the last end dropping a two to lose 20-22.

Although Nailsea led by three shots across the board after five ends against Clarrie Dunbar, the Standerwick men blasted away to a 62-shot victory, aided greatly by a 40-8 success from Keith Bailey’s home rink.

On the other home rink, Russell Francis only won by three shots but away at Nailsea Craig Doughty and Andrew Colebrooke’s fours teams enjoyed seven and 20 shot wins respectively.

For Clarrie Dunbar to pip Bristol for top spot they must whitewash Weston St Andrews – win on both rinks home and away – in their final match .

RESULTS

Christie Miller v Weston St Andrews

Home - Rink 3: Tom Newman, Paul Barnes, Bob Pratt & Brian Routledge beat Barry Forse 24-15. Rink 4: Keith Hicketts, Dale Hayward, David Laws & Andy Moore beat D Harris 25-10.

Away - Rink 1: John Bailey, Mike Savin, Dave Godwin & Paul Macdonald lost to D Bailey 20-22. Rink 2: Chris Easton, Adrian Bolwell, Graham Archard & Nigel Price beat T Steer 30-5.

Score: Christie Miller beat Weston St Andrews 99-52 and by 14pts to 2.

Clarrie Dunbar v Nailsea

Home - Rink 1: Mick Maslen, Trevor Batchelor, Terry Perkins & Russell Francis beat J Couch 24-21. Rink 2: John Freeman, Glyn Jones, Alan Totterdell & Keith Bailey beat B Holloway 40-8.

Away - Rink 1: Andy Taylor, Mike Sawyers, Steve Wiltshire & Craig Doughty beat D Gregory 28-21. Rink 2: Alex Shadwell, Brian Hawkins, Dale Taylor & Andy Colebrooke beat D Crawshaw 30-10.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Nailsea 122-60 and by 16pts to nil.

OTHER RESULTS

Feb 9: Bristol 95 (14) Christie Miller 53 (2). Feb 10: Christie Miller 99 (14) Weston St Andrew 52 (2); Bristol 85 (12) North Wilts 75 (4); Nailsea 60 (0) Clarrie Dunbar 122 (16).

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