CHRISTIE Miller are still seeking their first win of the 2015-16 campaign in the central region of the Wessex League after their third consecutive defeat in the group matches, writes DAVE EATON.

This time despite only tasting defeat on one rink, drawing on two others and winning on the fourth, they still went down 80-69 to Thornbury.

Although leading 13-0 after five ends and 15-6 at ten Paul Macdonald’s rink scored a single on the 21st and last end to grab a 19-18 win. While skips Andy Moore and Justin Davis both managed to eke out draws.

However, the 12-shot loss recorded by John Crowder’s home rink proved decisive.

Overall, Christie led Thornbury 23-19 at five ends and 40-36 at ten but were a shot down 57-56 after 15. Thornbury then produced a strong finish to claim an 80-69 victory.

Miller collected only four of the 16 points on offer and stay in sixth spot on eight points in the seven-team central section.

Christie’s next Wessex League game after the Christmas break is a local derby versus North Wilts on Sunday, January 3 (10am).

RESULTS

Home - Rink 3: Rod Summers, Steve Hocking, Darren Anteney & Justin Davis drew with John Lowden 18-18. Rink 4: Richard Buckland, Adi Bolwell, Colin Little & John Crowder lost to Colin Luton 15-27.

Away - Rink 3: John Bailey, Steve Gedge, Paul Barnes & Andy Moore drew with Ted Mangan 17-17. Rink 4: Colin Easton, Dale Hayward, Nigel Price & Paul Macdonald beat T Iles 19-18.

Score: Christie Miller lost to Thornbury 69 (4pts) - 80 (12pts).

CLARRIE DUNBAR returned to winning ways in the Wessex League after their narrow three shots defeat by Bristol in the last round of central section group matches with a powerful performance against North Wilts.

They were 45-25 up at ten ends but had been pulled back to only 57-45 at 15 ends and were only well up in one game but down narrowly in two others and drawing in the four game.

However, Wessex champions Clarrie then moved up a few gears over the final six ends across the board to score 32 shots and only concede 11 to win all four matches in an 89-56 victory and claim all 16 points.

The biggest turnabout came on the rink of Alan Taylor, Chris Easton, Fred Pope and Keith Bailey who came from 15-11 down at 19 ends with a single and a big count of six on the last to win their match 18-15.

After the Christmas break Clarrie Dunbar return to action on January 3 when they face Thornbury in a central group game.

RESULTS

Home - Rink 3: Keith Haines, Alan Colebrooke, Dale Taylor and Andy Colebrooke beat Alan Small 22-13. Rink 4: Peter Hooley, Alan Brown, Craig Doughty & Terry Perkins beat Maurice Byron 30-16.

Away - Rink 2: G Wride, Brian Hawkins, John Freeman & Barry Barry beat Richard Gainey 19-12. Rink 5: Alan Taylor, Chris Easton, Fred Pope & Keith Bailey beat Dave Williams 18-15.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat North Wilts 89 (16pts) - 56 (0pts).

WILTSHIRE men lost both of their latest county friendly matches under the stewardship of president Bob Roberts-Phare (North Wilts).

In the home match at Westlecot they (Wilts) led Berkshire 80-65 at 15 ends but then the wheels fell off as they only scored another 18 shots but conceded 41 to slump to a 106-98 defeat.

And in their friendly match in Melksham county men had to give second best to Christie Miller men who recorded a rare team victory 94-74.

The Miller men led all the way. They were 52-27 up at halfway, 84-66 at 18 and finally won 94-74 after six shots were docked from Christie Miller for fielding only a triple instead of a four in one of the games.

Skips Bob Pratt (17 shots) and Brian Godwin (15) registered Christie’s two rink wins after Colin Easton’s 24-18 success was amended to 18-18 as they only fielded a triple instead of a foursome.

Miller’s sole reverse was suffered by president Steve Hocking in the presidential tussle with county president Roberts-Phare.

RESULTS

Wilts v Berkshire (at Westlecot - skips only) Rink 1: Martin Salter beat A Greenaway 28-12. Rink 2: Miles Pickering lost to B Williams 19-28. Rink 3: Bob Roberts-Phare lost to E Orme 19-21. Rink 4: John Southern lost to T Davis 14-25. Rink 5: Ashley Ponting lost to A Brown 18-20.

Score: Wiltshire lost to Berkshire 98-106.

Wilts v Christie Miller (at Melksham) Rink 1: Gerry Mitchell, Craig Chard, Del Smith & Alan Small lost to Mike Over, Pete Renshaw, Alfie Maslen & Bob Pratt 11-28. Rink 2: Richard Davidge, Steve Hunt, Bob Curtis & Miles Pickering drew with R Thomas, T Coombs & Colin Easton 18-18 (18-24). Rink 3: Bob George, Gerry Vincent, Martin Salter & Bob Roberts-Phare beat Chris Easton, Fred Tape, Tom Newman & Steve Hocking 29-17. Rink 4: Andy List, Brian Mace, John Duncan & Maurice Byron lost to Richard Buckland, Tom Mitchell, Colin Dando & Brian Godwin 16-31.

Score: Wiltshire Men lost to Christie Miller 74-94.

CLARRIE DUNBAR face an important date on Saturday morning at 10am in their bid for national team honours.

They face MidGlos (Brockworth, Gloucester) in the fourth round of the Denny Cup, men’s top inter-club championship event.

So far Clarrie in the competition have beaten Thornbury 84-52, local rivals Christie Miller 82-62 and a fortnight ago edged home in a tense nail-biting tie 79-78 against Bristol on the last end of the match.

Tomorrow’s powerful but youthful opponents will also be a tough nut to crack as they have clocked-up a trio of impressive victories over Westlecot 89-62, Cotswold 84-70 and Malvern Hills 94-77.

Dunbar go into the Denny tie against MidGlos without their star man England indoor and outdoor international Graham Shadwell.

He is currently away in the sunshine in Cyprus competing for England in the 2015 Atlantic Games outdoors where he has already won a bronze medal in the pairs tournament with Devon’s Louis Ridout.

This week he is playing in the fours event along with Ridout and Berkshire duo Andrew Knapper (two) and Richard Newman (four and skip).

Shadwell, despite being unable to attend last weekend’s England indoor international trial owing to his participation in the Atlantic Games, has still been selected for the England team to contest the Home International Series at Llanelli, South Wales, in mid-March.

He has been chosen at number three in a rink consisting of lead Steven Mitchinson (Tye Green, Harlow, Essex), two Neil McKee (Kingsthorpe, Northampton) and skip Jamie Chestney (Exonia, Devon).

Fellow Clarrie Dunbar bowler Russell Francis attended last Sunday’s England trial at Northampton IBC but did not make the final squad of 27 players nor did Francis’ Wiltshire county outdoor playing compatriot Neil Smith (Westlecot IBC).