CHRISTIE MILLER and Clarrie Dunbar rounded off the final weekend of central region games in the Wessex League with victories, but North Wilts men suffered another two losses.

The Miller men maintained their fourth spot in the central table with a 13-shot victory over Purnell (Paulton), while Clarrie completed a weekend double defeating North Wilts and taking central region top spot with victory over nearest rivals Bristol.

However, there was no joy for North Wilts men as they were beaten on Saturday 88-61 by Clarrie Dunbar and on Sunday lost by 30 shots in a 98-68 defeat at the hands of Clevedon.

The latest two losses extended North Wilts poor Wessex record this season to seven successive defeats and ensures they finish with the wooden spoon with only one win in eight games to end on 27 points, five adrift of Purnell in eighth place and 11 adrift of seventh placed Nailsea.

The success for Miller, their third in a row, saw them climb up the central table from a lowly seventh to a finishing position of fourth behind the big guns Clarrie Dunbar, Bristol and Clevedon.

Christie led throughout against Purnell. They were 20-14 up after five ends, 38-25 at 10 but only 54-50 up at 15 but moved 70-56 ahead at 18 and finally won by 13 shots in a 79-66 success.

Miller won on three of the four rinks to collect 14 of the 16 points on offer with Andy Moore’s away win topping the victory margin table with 12 shots closely followed by Nigel Price on 11 shots.

Dunbar won the central region title last season and went on to also win the overall Wessex title in the play-offs. They have taken the first steps to achieving the same feat this season.

They won both of their central games at the weekend, beating North Wilts by 27 shots and 24 hours later won the top-of-the-table clash with Bristol 82-72 to take the central title again and extend their unbeaten run this season to eight straight victories and finish on 117 points, 19 clear of Bristol and 33 ahead of third-placed Clevedon.

Dunbar will begin the defence of their overall Wessex crown on Sunday, March 4. Fixtures will be known this weekend when the six regional winners plus runners-up together with four wild cards go into the draw to be made at the Wessex League AGM at Westlecot on Sunday.

North Wilts had a miserable Wessex League campaign in 2017/18.

They opened with a win over Purnell on October 8 but from then on it was all downhill with five losses in a row and ending last weekend with another two against central league winners Dunbar 61-88 and a 68-98 reverse against Clevedon.

North Wilts did manage a rink win in both matches - both of them from the foursomes skipped by Richard Gainey at home at Westcroft.

RESULTS

Christie Miller v Purnell Home - Rink 3: Mike Over, Josh Mullett, Colin Little & Nigel Price beat T Willcox 26-15. Rink 4: L Williams, Derek Elkins, Steve Hockings & John Crowder lost to Hugh Lorimer 10-28.

Away - Rink 1: Jordan Moore, Rob Emery, Paul Barnes & Andy Moore beat J Matthews 25-13. Rink 2: David Hayward, Joe Newman, Dale Hayward & Tom Newman beat R Gay 18-10.

Score: Christie Miller beat Purnell 79-66 and by 14pts to 2pts.

Clarrie Dunbar v North Wilts (skips only) Home - Rink 2: Graham Shadwell beat Trevor Cooke 26-13. Rink 3: Andy Colebrooke beat Maurice Byron 27-14. Away - Rink 3: Keith Bailey beat Roger Button 18-14. Rink 4: Duncan McGovern lost to Rich Gainey 17-20.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat North Wilts 88-61 and by 14pts to 2pts.

Clarrie Dunbar v Bristol, Home - Rink 2: Duncan McGovern beat Barry Barry 25-10. Rink 3: Andy Colebrooke lost to Eric Seavill 19-23. Away - Rink 3: Graham Shadwell beat Nigel Green 24-11. Rink 4: Keith Bailey lost to Calvin Little 14-28.

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Bristol 82-72 and by 12pts to 4pts.

North Wilts v Clevedon, Home - Rink 2: Maurice Byron lost to John Hick 18-20. Rink 3: Richard Gainey beat Gordon Jay 19-18. Away - Rink 1: Trevor Cooke lost to D Churchill 12-29. Rink 2: Roger Button lost to K Chaney 19-31.

Score: North Wilts lost to Clevedon 68-98 and by 2pts to 14pts.