CLARRIE Dunbar completed a team double in the Yetton and Egham Trophies but missed out in the Denny Cup in a hectic four-day spell of national inter-club championship matches, writes DAVE EATON.

The ladies side set the ball rolling with a hard fought eight shots Yetton Trophy victory over Thornbury.

Two days later the men missed out in the Denny Cup losing to last season’s beaten semi-finalists Desborough (Maidenhead), one of the strongest indoor bowls clubs in the country.

However, 24 hours later on Sunday the mixed team bounced back to redress the balance as they defeated Ilminster by 15 shots in the Egham Trophy.

Clarrie Ladies’ second round 78-70 Yetton win over Thornbury was a close affair despite winning on three of the four rinks.

Nesta Parfitt and Jeanette Hocking only won by two shots each but Jo Dunford’s quartet scored a decisive six shots away success which compensated for Wendy Ivory’s narrow reverse.

The reward for Clarrie Ladies for defeating Thornbury is a tough third round tie on December 13 against local rivals and 2008 Yetton Trophy national champions, North Wilts.

Berkshire side Desborough (Maidenhead) fielding several former England internationals and triallists proved to be far too strong for Dunbar men, who went into the match as underdogs.

Clarrie lost on all four rinks as they went down 86-58.

That loss was quickly forgotten as the next day Dunbar’s mixed team produced a Sunday special in the fourth round of the Egham Trophy, national mixed inter-club four-rink championship.

They extracted sweet revenge for a 19-shot loss to Ilminister at this same stage last season by beating them this time around 79-64.

Clarrie took the honours on two rinks, drew on another and lost on one with the big 26-9 success by Russell Francis’ foursome being the telling factor in the final analysis.

In fact Clarrie trailed in the early stages of the match and across the board were 22-14 down at five ends but had clawed their way back to lead 52-49 after 15 ends.

Then in a final push they edged away to a 15 shots victory.

They will now face Devon’s Torquay United or Plymouth in the last 16 (fifth round) on December 16.

RESULTS

Yetton Trophy v Thornbury Home - Rink 1: Helen Wragg, Val Church, Shirley Day & Wendy Ivory lost to A White 20-22. Rink 2: Ruth Jupp, Joan Doyle, Teresa King & Jeanette Hocking beat Val Osmond 20-18. Away - Rink 1: Sadie Farrell, Marjorie Gatfield, Alisa Midwinter & Nesta Parfitt beat Cynthia Winter-Alsop 18-16. Rink 2: Nicki Keefe, Cathy Hill, Joyce Jasper & Jo Dunford beat Kath Sealey 20-14.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Thornbury 78-70.

Denny Cup v Desborough (Maidenhead)

Home - Rink 1: Alex Shadwell, Dale Taylor, Mike Sawyers & Andrew Colebrooke lost to Alan Price 13-16. Rink 2: Mick Maslen, Glyn Jones, Fred Pope & Duncan McGovern lost to I McGuinness 15-21. Away - Rink 1: Andy Taylor, Brian Hawkins, John Freeman & Keith Bailey lost to Simon Jones 13-22. Rink 2: Dick Discombe, Trevor Batchelor, Craig Doughty & Steve Wiltshire lost to Andy Knapper 17-27.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar lost to Deborough 58-86.

Egham Trophy v Ilminster

Home - Rink 1: Debbie Shadwell, Kim Smith, Terry Perkins & Andrew Colebrooke lost to Matthew Hamilton 14-19. Rink 2: Kathy Walker, Thelma Deane, Dick Discombe & Russell Francis beat Jason Miles 26-9. Away - Rink 1: Sadie Farrell, Ann Jones, John Freeman & Keith Bailey drew with K Hamilton 18-18. Rink 2: Teresa King, Jeanette Hocking, Craig Doughty & Steve Wiltshire beat B Anderson 21-18.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Ilminster 79-64.

AFTER their shock loss to Bristol in the second round of matches in the central section of the Wessex League Clarrie Dunbar men will be looking to bounce back this coming Sunday.

They face North Wilts, who have won their opening two matches, and took top spot off Clarrie when they were beaten by Bristol.

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