CLARRIE Dunbar’s hopes of success this season in a national indoor team competition has been dealt a heavy blow with a defeat in the men’s Denny Cup – the top men’s inter-club championship.

The Standerwick-based club, who had previously beaten MidGlos (75-36), Bristol (73-37), Malvern Hills (95-87), Oxford City & County (84-43), lost their fifth round tie 85-64 against Wey Valley (Guildford, Surrey).

Dunbar only took the honours on one rink, that lone success came at home at Standerwick where Andy Colebrooke’ s quartet edged home 22-20 against Dan Morris.

The other home rink skipped by Russell Francis drew 15-15 with Charles Bruder.

However, away in Guildford, Clarrie struggled and lost both games.

Graham Shadwell’s rink lost 30-12 to Simon Clarke, while Keith Bailey’s quartet went down 20-15 to Paul Coleman.

Despite the loss in the Denny Cup, Clarrie Dunbar are still running in two other national team competitions.

The ladies are through to round three in the Mason Trophy – O60s double rinks – and a meeting with Thornbury on January 18.

Dunbar’s mixed team is regarded as one of the strongest in the country in recent seasons and has reached the semi-finals in both the Top Club and Egham Trophy competitions in the last three seasons.

After victories over Clevedon 84-45, North Wilts 93-57, St Andrews (Weston SM) 98-48 and Victoria (Street) 95-68 they have reached the quarter-finals in the Egham Trophy, two mixed rinks at home and two away, against Devon side Exonia this coming Sunday.

  • AFTER the festive break, the Wessex League re-commences in the Central region of the men’s competition this weekend.

Reigning Central champions Clarrie Dunbar were due to face Thornbury on Sunday, but the match has been postponed as it clashes with Dunbar’s national Egham Trophy game against Exonia.

It has been re-arranged for January 26 but Clarrie return to action before that on January 20 against Nailsea, while Chippenham club North Wilts face basement club Purnell (Paulton).

Currently, North Wilts headed the central region table with 44 points from four games, while Clarrie Dunbar are third on 28 points having only dropped four points out of a maximum of 32 and remain favourites to top the table and reach the end-of-season play-offs for the overall Wessex title.