BOWLS: Clarrie into quarter finals (From Wiltshire Times)

BOWLS: Clarrie into quarter finals

11:00am Friday 15th March 2013 in Sport News

CLARRIE Dunbar men are through to the quarter-finals of the Wessex League play-offs and on course to win the overall league title for a second time, writes DAVE EATON.

Overall Wessex League champions in 2009, Clarrie brushed aside the challenge offered by Dolphin (Poole), the 2010 champions, last Sunday, in the first round (last 16) of this season’s play-offs competition.

They defeated the Dorset side, runners-up in the coastal region, by 23 shots as they ran out 77-54 victors, taking the honours on all four rinks.

Clarrie made a good start across the board and were 10 shots up at ten ends as they led 37-27. But it was in the next five ends where they made a decisive move forging into a 60-35 lead (plus 25 shots) and eventually won 77-54.

The main contribution to the 23-shot success came from Terry Perkins’ rink who notched up a telling 16-shot victory in Poole. The other three rinks, however, were closely contested.

Andy Colebrooke’s quartet edged home by one shot in Poole while Russell Francis home rink at Clarrie Dunbar won by the same margin.

The clean sweep was completed by Keith Bailey’s foursome who recorded a five shot home success.

In the quarter-finals due to be played this coming Sunday, Clarrie Dunbar have been drawn against Rugby who won the midlands region title and beat Cotswold 91-76 in the last 16 of the play-offs.

RESULTS

Home Rink 1: Dick Discombe, Trevor Batchelor, Steve Wiltshire & Russell Francis beat D Ames 18-17. Rink 2: John Freeman, Glyn Jones, Alan Totterdell & Keith Bailey beat A McKenzie 19-14.

Away, Rink 1: Andy Taylor, Mike Sawyers, Craig Doughty & Terry Perkins beat C Weekes 22-6. Rink 2: Alex Shadwell, Brian Hawkins, Derek Monte & Andy Colebrooke beat J Jepson 18-17.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Dolphin (Poole) 77-54.

PLAY-OFFS

1st Round: Rugby (winner midland) 91 Cotswold (Stroud, wildcard) 76; Dolphin (Poole, r-up coastal) 54 Clarrie Dunbar (Frome r-up central) 77; Malvern (winner north) 68 Exonia (Exeter r-up west) 85; West Berks (winner east) 72 Bromsgrove (w/card) 83; Bristol (winner central) 98 Carterton (r-up east) 80; Moonfleet (Weymouth winner coastal) 93 Westlecot (w/card) 56; Church Gresley (r-up midland) 98 MidGlos (r-up north) 59; Plymouth (winner west) 58 Bournemouth (w/card) 82.

Quarter-finals, Sunday, March 17: Rugby v Clarrie Dunbar; Exonia v Bromsgrove; Bristol v Moonfleet; Church Gresley v Bournemouth.

JOHN FREEMAN and Duncan McGovern have reached the final of the Somerset County indoor Pairs competition.

They booked their place in the last two of the county pairs with a last end 17-15 victory over Clarrie Dunbar team colleagues Kenny Wilkins and Keith Bailey on Monday night.

The all-Clarrie clash was a tight match for most of the way and after 20 ends the two sides were tied 15-15 but it was Freeman and McGovern who took the plaudits with two shots on the deciding 21st end.

Freeman and McGovern move forward to the final on March 23 at Donyatt (Ilminster) against P Howard and his partner from North Petherton (Bridgwater) who won their semi-final 19-11.

SECOND in Somerset County League Division Clarrie Dunbar won their fifth and penultimate men’s inter-club county league match with a 89-62 success over Purnell (Paulton).

Clarrie took the honours on three of the four rinks to notch 14 points out of a possible 16 and keep their hopes of catching reigning champions Yeovil at the top in their final match against Minehead this Sunday.

RESULT

Skips names only, Home: David Pitcher beat M Pratt 21-16; Duncan McGovern beat H Lorimer 28-8. Away: Graham Jones beat R Gay 21-19; Alan Colebrooke lost to J Matthews 19-21.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Purnell 89 (14pts) - 64 (2pts).

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