CHRISTIE Miller team’s first entry into the Top Club competition is proving to be a highly successful venture, writes DAVE EATON.

They produced another outstanding performance to knock high-flying Bristol out of the national mixed inter-club competition.

Despite losing both singles games, Christie won the other three disciplines - mixed pairs, mixed triples and mixed fours - to eliminate Bristol 12-4 in their third round tie on their own green at Ashton Vale.

Bristol had earlier knocked out Clarrie Dunbar 10pts to 6 in round one and then whitewashed Purnell 16-0, while Christie had a bye in round one and then defeated neighbours North Wilts in their second round derby clash away in Chippenham 10-6.

Christie were on the back foot early against Bristol away as Sheila Garlick went down 15-12 in the ladies singles, then Chris Easton dropped another two points losing his men’s singles 18-12 but the Melksham side hit back superbly.

The mixed fours team produced a healthy 25-12 win to totally wipe out the nine shots singles deficit and bring the sides level at four points all.

Christie moved ahead as the mixed pairs team edged home 22-19 in a tight match to add four more points and put Miller 8-4 up.

And not long afterwards the mixed triples side put the icing on the cake with an 18-11 success to seal the 12-4 victory.

Christie Miller progress to the fourth round (last 16) where they will play Desborough away In Maidenhead (Berks) on February 8.

RESULTS

Singles - Ladies: Sheila Garlick lost to J Lowdon 12-15 (0pts); Men’s: Chris Easton lost to Paul Pope 12-18 (0pts). Mixed Pairs: Eileen Hawker & Andy Moore beat S Coffield & Terry Barnes 22-19 (4pts). Mixed Triples: Janet Buckland, Paul Macdonald & Nigel Price beat Nigel Green, Sue Osborne & Barry Barry 18-11 (4pts). Mixed Fours: Delia Godwin, Bev Liiley, Mike Savin & Wayne Snook beat Margaret Collins, Joyce Parslow, Pete Cross and Gerry Coffield 25-12 (4pts).

Score: Christie Miller beat Bristol 12pts-4 and 89-75.

WINNERS last year of the Optika Top Nine Championship holders Clarrie Dunbar Ladies B team made the perfect start to the defence of their Somerset county women’s title.

In the three rink competition - pairs, triples and fours - they beat St Andrews (Weston-super-Mare) at home 2-1.

The Clarrie triple skipped by Marcia Hartley secured Clarrie’s first point with a decisive 12 shot victory.

However, with three ends to play the other two matches were delicately poised with Clarrie one shot up in the pairs while the fours was tied.

In the last three ends Dunbar missed out losing the fours by two shots but held on in the pairs to win by three shots and edged home 2pts-1.

The Clarrie A side who lost in last year’s Optika Top Nine semi-final meet Bristol away tomorrow evening in round one (6.30pm).

RESULTS

Pairs: Thelma Bailey & Ann Jones beat M Millard & M Favis 18-15. Triples: Kathy Walker, Pat Pitman & Marcia Hartley beat C Venn, S Sinclair & J Smith 24-12. Fours: Lynn Baxter, Maggie Morgan, Debbie Shadwell & Kim Smith lost to P Uglow, M McMillan, A Powell & A Campbell 17-19.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar B beat St Andrew 2-1.

COUNTY Double Rink champions for the past three years, Clarrie Dunbar men made a 45-28 winning start to this season’s campaign at St Andrew (Weston-super-Mare) last Sunday morning.

Overall scores were extremely tight on the one rink at home and one away as after 15 ends Clarrie were only one shot up leading 28-27.

But in the last quarter of the game they roared away to collect 17 shots and only drop one for a 45-28 success and victory on both rinks.

Clarrie move forward to face Bridgwater in the second round.

RESULTS

Home: Andrew Taylor, John Freeman, Dale Taylor & Terry Perkins beat Barrie Forse 26-10.

Away: Brian Hawkins, Keith Bailey, Craig Doughty & Graham Shadwell beat Alan Owens 19-18.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat St Andrews 45-28.