CLARRIE Dunbar set a new club record last season when they reached a quarter-final in a national indoor team competition for the very first time since the club was formed in 1985, writes DAVE EATON.

They reached the last eight in the mixed team event for the Egham Trophy, were successful against Victory (Portsmouth) 77-65, to even extend the record to semi-finalist before going out to Kent indoor side Swale who lost in the final to Norfolk IBC based in Norwich.

This season Clarrie have enjoyed a successful run in national team events again and had reached two quarter-finals before losing in the men’s Denny Cup to Exonia and going down in the Egham Trophy to Torquay United.

Now Clarrie have the chance of revenge over Devon side Torquay Utd as they will face them in the quarter-finals of the mixed Top Club competition following a brilliant fourth round 10-6 away win in Surrey over Egham in the Top Club.

Dunbar were in majestic form against top mixed side Egham in the Top Club competition taking the honours in three of the five disciplines - men’s singles, mixed pairs and mixed triples, only missing-out in the ladies singles and mixed fours disciplines.

Jeanette Wheeler found the going tough in the ladies singles against the vastly experience ex-England international Doreen Hankin losing 22-3 but Keith Bailey gave the team a lift early on with a win in the men’s singles 14-12 over Sean Gingell to collect two of the four points on offer in both the ladies and men’s singles (two points each).

In the mixed pairs, the usual combination of Marcia Hartley and Neil Collett were always ahead of England international Kylie Hampton and Ian Jenkins leading 4-1 at five ends, 11-5 at ten, 15-8 at 15 before claiming a15-13 win at 18 ends for another four points.

And despite dropping a seven on the last end Andy Colebrooke’s triple were adding another four points for overall victory as they were 19-9 ahead at the time.

They had been in charge of their triples throughout leading Barry Jenkins 6-1 at five ends, 11-7 at ten and 19-9 after 15.

Leading 10-2 on points Dunbar were home and dry easily wiping out Graham Shadwell’s mixed fours 17-13 loss to Steve Tuohy’s Egham quartet.

Shadwell trailed 6-4 at five ends, 8-7 at ten and was 14-11 down at 15 before finally losing 17-13.

In the next round, on Easter Sunday, April 16, a quarter-final tie, a third last eight for Clarrie this season they will host Torquay United with revenge for the Egham loss a top priority.

To reach the Top Club quarters against Torquay this season Clarrie have beaten Clevedon at home 10pts to six, North Wilts away 14-2, Bristol home 12-4 and booked their last eight spot with a 10-6 away win in the fourth round over Egham.

In the other quarter-final ties in April Hartlepool play Spalding (Lincs); Essex County face either Kingsthorpe (Northants) or St Neots (Cambs) while Riverain (Hitchin, Herts) meet Swale (Kent).

RESULTS

Away v Egham (Top Club) Singles - Ladies: Jeanette Wheeler lost to Doreen Hankin 3-22 (0pts). Men: Keith Bailey beat Sean Gingell 14-12 (2pts). Mixed Pairs: Marcia Hartley & Neil Collett beat Kylie Hampton & Ian Jenkins 15-13 (4pts). Mixed Triples: Thelma Bailey, Craig Doughty & Andy Colebrooke beat Barry Jenkins (skip) 19-16 (4pts). Mixed Fours: Debbie Shadwell, Kim Smith, Barry Barry & Graham Shadwell lost to Steve Tuohy (skip) 13-17 (0pts).

Score: Clarrie Dunbar beat Egham 10pts-6pts.

TOM Newman, from Christie Miller, drew the short straw in the last 16 of the men’s U25 national singles finals at City of Ely last weekend.

The Melksham indoor bowler lost in the first round 2-0 in sets to England current junior international Edward Elmore from the host club Ely. Elmore utilising home advantage went on to lift the men’s U25 crown on Sunday afternoon.

LEADERS Clarrie Dunbar can go one step nearer to clinching one of the central region’s automatic places in the Wessex League end of season play-offs with victory this Sunday (10am) against basement club Nailsea.

Dunbar are currently seven points clear of second-placed North Wilts and 12 clear of third-placed Bristol who clash this Sunday with the winner virtually guaranteed to finish the season as central runners-up.

Clarrie have two matches remaining in the central section.

They are versus Nailsea on Sunday and the re-arranged game versus neighbours Christie Miller a week later on February 12.

Three-time overall Wessex League champions Clarrie men are odds on favourites to win the central region again this season and one of the warm favourites for the overall Wessex title again.