CLARRIE Dunbar suffered a double blow last weekend in their quest for glory in a national team championship event, writes DAVE EATON.

The Standerwick-based club’s mixed side were pipped on the last end, going down by a single shot to Clevedon last Sunday, in a third round Egham Trophy tie, national mixed inter-club championship.

A day earlier, the men’s team were locked in another tight tussle with old adversaries Bristol – but on this occasion they had to give second best.

Despite beating Bristol a week earlier 83-77 in a top-of-the-table Wessex League central region clash Clarrie could not repeat the dose and were beaten 75-68 in a Denny Cup third round tie, national men’s inter-club championship.

Clarrie took the honours on one rink, drew on another and lost on two, but Bristol edged ahead in the final few ends to claim victory.

Duncan McGovern’s away rink in Bristol took the only success with a two shots win while Russell Francis quartet drew at home but Graham Shadwell’s rink lost by three shots away and decisively Keith Bailey’s four went down at home by six shots.

A nail-biting Egham Trophy mixed third-round battle saw Dunbar just miss out by a single shot – the game going right down to the very last wood.

The scores across the board were tied at 77-77 with just one end to play on the away rink between Graham Shadwell and Nick Pearce.

Clevedon were holding game shot with just one wood to come.

Shadwell played to take out Clevedon’s shot bowl and stay by the jack for shot to give Clarrie victory.

He successfully negotiated the first part, but his own bowl rolled on and failed to count, giving Pearce the decisive one shot and overall victory for the Somerset side.

It means Clarrie are now only left in one national inter-club team event – the Top Club mixed competition.

They are scheduled to host Desborough (Maidenhead), one of the top clubs in the south and home counties, on Sunday at home in the Top Club (6pm).

The men’s section at Clarrie will also be in action on Sunday (10am).

The reigning Wessex League play-off champions face North Wilts in their third central regional round robin game of the 2013/14 campaign.

Clarrie will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the central regional table in the local derby, with North Wilts seeking to put points on the board after their opening loss to Purnell 86-66.

Christie Miller will be hoping to move above Purnell when they meet Thornbury.

RESULTS

Denny Cup v Bristol Home - Rink 1: Mick Maslen, Mike Sawyers, Alan Totterdale & Keith Bailey lost to Pete Birmingham 12-18. Rink 2: Dick Discombe, Peter Hooley, Alan Colebrooke & Russell Francis drew with Paul Bryant 17-17.

Away - Rink 1: John Freeman, Brian Hawkins, Dale Taylor & Graham Shadwell lost to Jason Sparkes 19-22. Rink 2: Andy Taylor, Fred Pope, Craig Doughty & Duncan McGovern beat Gerry Coffield 20-18.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar lost to Bristol 68-75.

Egham Trophy v Clevedon

Home - Rink 1: Shirley Samuels, Debbie Shadwell, Dick Discombe & Russell Francis drew with Gordon Jay 18-18. Rink 2: Sadie Farrell, Kim Smith, Dale Taylor & Andrew Colebrooke beat Steph Branfield 23-16.

Away - Rink 1: Marcia Hartley, Jeanette Wheeler, Craig Doughty & Neil Collett lost to John Hick 19-24. Rink 2: Jo Dunford, Annie Jones, Keith Bailey & Graham Shadwell lost to Nick Pearce 17-20.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar lost to Clevedon 77-78.

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