CHRISTIE Miller and Clarrie Dunbar saw their hopes of glory in national team competitions ended last week, writes DAVE EATON.

On their first appearance in the Top Club mixed competition Christie were beaten in their fourth round tie (last 16) by the 2013/14 winners Desborough (Maidenhead) on Saturday.

Dunbar’s fine run in the Mason Trophy, ladies Over 60s double rinks came to an end in their fifth round tie (last 16), beaten on the last end by one shot by Plymouth last Friday.

Miller had surprised a few with victories over North Wilts and Bristol but came unstuck against a strong Desborough side away in Maidenhead losing in all four disciplines to the Top Club holders, who move forward to the quarter-finals and face Clevedon.

Clarrie ladies had brushed aside Purnell, Christie Miller, North Wilts, Thornbury and Taunton Deane to enjoy a fine run in the Mason Trophy.

In an extremely tight fifth-round tie against Plymouth the outcome of the tie was settled on the last two ends with Plymouth leading 39-37.

The Clarrie rink skipped by Teresa King notched a two on their last end to bring the overall scores level at 39-39 but the other skip, Ailsa Midwinter, with her last wood could not deny Plymouth the winning shot.

Despite the narrow defeat and disappointment of just losing it was Clarrie Dunbar senior women’s best performance in this competition for many years and a credit to them that played over the rounds.

Plymouth will meet Bournemouth in the quarter-finals.

RESULTS

Christie Miller v Desborough Singles - Ladies: Sheila Garlick lost to Pat Holland 12-15. Men: Chris Easton lost to Paul Maynard 7-19. Pairs: Eileen Hawker & Andy Moore lost to Lorraine Woodley & John McGuinness 6-18. Triples: Delia Godwin, Paul Macdonald & Nigel Price lost to Mary Price, Michael Knight and Robert Newman 10-21. Fours: Jean Buckland, Bev Lilley, Mike Savin & Wayne Snook lost to Eileen Devonald-Batt, C Rogers, Simon Jones and Alan Price 22-36.

Score: Christie Miller lost to Desborough 0pts-16pts.

Clarrie Dunbar v Plymouth (at Taunton Deane) Rink 2: Sadie Farrell, Shirley Samuels, Ann Jones & Teresa King lost to P Monk, J Blagott, S Quayle & Mary Player 18-23. Rink 3: Lynn Baxter, Maggie Morgan, Wendy Ivory & Ailsa Midwinter beat A Harris, M Carlyle, J Ward & A Hodsoll 21-17.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar lost to Plymouth 39-40.

CLARRIE Dunbar women bounced back last weekend in the county ladies Optika Top Nine competition quarter-finals with both the A and B sides winning their home quarter-final ties.

The B team, last season’s champions defeated Ilminster 2-1 winning the triples on the last end and fours but losing the pairs.

Meanwhile the A side beaten semi-finalists last season whitewashed Taunton 3-0 winning all three disciplines for a comfortable victory.

Holders Clarrie B move forward to the semi-finals and will face Taunton Deane while in the other semi Clarrie A team will play Nailsea.

RESULTS

Clarrie B v Ilminster, Pairs: Irene Abel & Ann Jones lost to Heather Grinter & Maureen Mitchell 14-19. Triples: Doreen Watson, Pat Pitman & Marcia Hartley beat Angie Thompson 17-16. Fours: Christine Buxton, Maggie Morgan, Debbie Shadwell & Kim Smith beat J Checketts 18-14.

Score: Clarrie B beat Ilminster 2pts-1pt.

Clarrie A v Taunton, Pairs: Sadie Farrell & Nesta Parfitt beat V Bishop & S Trott 30-15. Triples: Shirley Samuels, Jan Alden & Ailsa Midwinter beat R Buckingham 18-16. Fours: Ruth Haines, Emma Maslen, Marjorie Gatfield & Wendy Ivory beat F Hunt 24-9.

Score: Clarrie A beat Taunton 3pts-0.

A ONE HUNDRED per cent record is Clarrie Dunbar men’s proud achievement this season in the central region of the Wessex League.

They concluded their group matches with a sixth straight win thrashing Nailsea 110-49 last Sunday and winning on all four rinks to take another a maximum haul of 16 points.

Top winning rink was Russell Francis home quartet who registered a 30-8 success.

Clarrie move forward to the end of season play-offs for the overall Wessex title which they won in 2009 and 2013. Having won the central title convincingly they will be one of the favourites for the overall crown.

In other matches last weekend North Wilts caused a shock by beating Bristol 71-66 to put a dent in their hopes of finishing in second behind Clarrie and claiming the other automatic play offs place.

Christie Miller did not play last weekend but finish their 2014/15 campaign on February 22 when they play Purnell while on the same day North Wilts face Nailsea.

RESULTS

Clarrie Dunbar v Nailsea Home - Rink 2: Peter Hooley, Keith Haines, Alan Brown & Russell Francis beat D Gregory 30-8. Rink 3: Dick Discombe, Alan Colebrooke, Dale Taylor & Andy Colebrooke beat J Couch 29-14 . Away - Rink 1: Andrew Taylor, John Freeman, Fred Pope & Keith Bailey beat B Holloway 24-16. Rink 2: Ian Perkins, John Smith, Brian Hawkins & Terry Perkins beat M Rowsell 27-11.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Nailsea 110 (16pts) – 49 (0pts).