CHRISTIE Miller and Clarrie Dunbar men both recorded victories in last weekend’s central region second round group matches in the Wessex League, writes DAVE EATON.

The former accounted for Nailsea by 18 shots in an 84-66 success while Clarrie Dunbar won the battle of the central region heavyweights with a hard-fought and tense six-shot win over Bristol, last year’s central region champions who were beaten by Dunbar in the Wessex League overall play-offs final.

Miller’s success over Nailsea was built on an excellent double at home at the Melksham Sports Centre with Andy Moore’s rink winning by 15 shots and Brian Routledge completing the Christie Miller double with a six shots victory.

Moore made a flying start and was 10-1 up at five ends but only 19-11 ahead at 15 before pulling away again to win comfortably.

On the next green Routledge was always ahead and led 11-3 at nine ends. But his opponents fought back to cut the gap to 13-10 at 13. However, the Miller foursome edged away again to win by six shots.

Away in Nailsea, Nigel Price led his rink to a narrow three-shot success but Paul Macdonald went down by six shots so Christie Miller missed-out on a maximum only taking 14 points out of a possible 16.

Central region leaders Dunbar were involved in a much tougher match against arch-rivals Bristol but triumphed by six shots in an 83-77 victory which earned them 13 points.

Clarrie made a good start and led by seven shots after five ends across the board but Bristol hit back to go ahead by seven themselves at 15 ends by a 56-49 score line.

Back came Dunbar though to regain a nine shot advantage and eventually claim a very hard earned six shots success.

They took the honours on two rinks, drew on another and lost on one.

Russell Francis maintained his fine form with a nine shot home win while Keith Bailey was held to a draw. Andy Colebrooke won away by six shots but Craig Doughty went down by nine.

Another hard fought battle would seem in store this coming Saturday as Clarrie Dunbar and Bristol men are due to lock horns again but this time in the third round of the Denny Cup, national inter-club championship.

RESULTS

Christie Miller v Nailsea Home - Rink 3: Malcolm Hole, Steve Gedge, David Laws & Andy Moore beat Debroy Gregory 29-14. Rink 4: Paul Barnes, David Hayward, Bob Pratt & Brian Routledge beat John Couch 22-16.

Away - Rink 1: Nigel Price beat Brian Holloway 20-17. Rink 2: Paul Macdonald lost to P Howard 13-19.

Score: Christie Miller 84 (14pts) Nailsea 66 (2pts).

Clarrie Dunbar v Bristol

Home - Rink 1: John Freeman, Fred Pope, Glyn Jones & Keith Bailey drew with Pete Birmingham 20-20. Rink 2: Dick Discombe, Trevor Batchelor, Alan Colebrooke & Russell Francis beat Paul Bryant 26-17.

Away - Rink 1: Andy Taylor, Brian Hawkins, Dale Taylor & Andy Colebrooke beat Eric Seavill 21-15. Rink 2: Ian Perkins, Mike Sawyers, Duncan McGovern & Craig Doughty lost to Gerry Coffield 16-25.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar 83 (13pts) Bristol 77 (3pts).

OTHER RESULTS

Central Region: Purnell 86 (15pts) North Wilts 66 (1).

CLARRIE Dunbar are still running in three of the main national inter-club team championship events - men’s Denny Cup and both the mixed Egham Trophy and Top Club competitions.

The Standerwick-based club continue their quest for national glory in the Denny Cup, men’s inter-club championship when they meet their old adversaries Bristol tomorrow morning in a third round tie (10am) They have already beaten Nailsea 93-63 and Victoria(W-s-M) 111-60.

Victory over Bristol would put Clarrie Dunbar into the fourth round (last 32) against either Desborough (Maidenhead) or Foxhill (Aylesbury).

Clarrie have recorded big wins against North Wilts 86-58 and Bristol 89-55 in the Egham Trophy, national mixed inter-club championship.

This Sunday (10am) they are due to face Clevedon in the third round with the prize of a fourth round Egham Trophy tie against Ilminister or St Andrews (W-s-M) the prize for the victors.

Dunbar are also through to the fourth round (last 16) in the national mixed Top Club competition and are due to meet Berkshire side Desborough (Maidenhead) on December 8.

ANDY Colebrooke has reached the inter-area finals in the Champion of Champions competition and is one win away from reaching the last 16 and final stages of the competition at the end of January next year.

The Clarrie Dunbar 2012/13 men’s singles champion booked his place in the inter-area final with a comprehensive 21-4 victory over Dale Taylor representing Purnell (Paulton).

Area 30 winner Colebrooke now faces Area 29 champion Andrew Owens (St Andrews, Weston) in the inter-area showdown by December 15 with a place at Warner Leisure’s Lakeside Coastal Village, Hayling Island in the final stages of the 2014 Champion of Champions competition the reward on offer.

WILTSHIRE men produced a fine performance last Saturday to beat Gloucestershire in the first round of the inter-county championship.

They led all the way at MidGlos (Brockworth) in the away Liberty Trophy tie to claim a 14 shot success as they ran-out 135-121 victors.

Wiltshire were 34-25 up across the board at five ends and 66-49 at ten. That was increased to 102-75 at 15 before hosts Gloucestershire hit back to cut the final score line to 135-121 at 21 ends.

The Moonrakers took the honours on four of the six rinks - the only two defeats being suffered by Andy Moore’s all-Christie Miller rink who lost by ten shots. The other losers were Wayne Snook’s all-North Wilts rink who also went down by ten shots.

Moore’s rink were tied 11-11 at ten and 16-16 at 15 ends but trailed 23-18 at 18 and never scored again to lose 28-18.

But Christie Miller’s Dale Hayward, a late replacement for the injured Keith Hutchens, did enjoy success being a member of Dave Snell’s rink who won 26-15.

“Very pleased with the performance and result,” said Wilts team manager Neil Smith. “I always believed we could be competitive so delighted we could get the result against a decent Gloucester side.”

Wiltshire will now meet Somerset in the Liberty Trophy, at home at North Wilts, Chippenham in round two (last 16) on Saturday, January 11..

RESULTS

Rink 1: Mike Titcombe, James Nobbs, Steve Remington & Neil Smith (all Swindon Westlecot) beat Rob Griffiths 23-19.

Rink 2: Chris Easton, Nigel Price, Paul Macdonald & Andy Moore (all Christie Miller, Melksham) lost to Steve Knight 18-28.

Rink 3: Alan Greenland (North Wilts, Chippenham), Dale Hayward (CM), Josh Cottle & Dave Snell (both West) beat Nick Holliday 26-15.

Rink 4: Steve Snook, John Buckland, Max Clark & Wayne Snook (all NW) lost to S Munro 19-29.

Rink 5: Paul Kistle, Denis Holborow, Kevin Embling & Ian Jefferies (all West) beat Graham Griffiths 25-13.

Rink 6: Jordan Moody, Richard Hindley, (both Five Rivers, Salisbury), Kyle Anderson (West) & Nick Revell (FR) beat Keith Hinder 24-17.

Score: Wiltshire beat Gloucestershire 135- 121.

TEN members of the Clarrie Dunbar Club men’s section helped Somerset to a 121-99 victory over Dorset in the first round of the Liberty Trophy, national inter-county championship last weekend.

The players from the Standerwick club who took part were Andrew, Colebrooke, Russell Francis, Craig Doughty, Keith Bailey, Terry Perkins, Graham Shadwell while Andrew Taylor, Neil Collett, John Freeman and Dale Taylor all made their Liberty Trophy debuts for the cider county at the Taunton Deane Indoor Bowls Club.

Somerset now face neighbours Wiltshire in the next round (last 16), who they have beaten twice in this competition in the past two seasons away at North Wilts IBC, Chippenham on Saturday, January 11 (10am).

MORE SPORTS NEWS & PICTURES IN FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES