Moonfleet take Coastal crown (From Dorset Echo)

Moonfleet take Coastal crown

6:00pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport By Echo Reporter

MOONFLEET 94 (14)

EAST DORSET 57 (2)

MOONFLEET took the Coastal Region title in the Wessex League with an impressive victory over East Dorset.

The win meant Fleet maintained a 100 per cent winning record in the league stages for the second year in succession, taking 126 points from a possible 144.

At home, the rink of Mick Moxham, Mike Goddard, Pete Read and Warren Smith took on the M Newton four and were always comfortably in front as they recorded a fine 30-13 win.

Alongside in Weymouth were Andy Clark, Harry Nash, Mike Durant and Kevin Walbridge who, early on, struggled to find form but eventually pulled through with a 20-13 success against R Curtis.

Away at East Dorset, Arthur Monelle, StJ Corben, Chris Cook and Martin Puckett were drawn against V Cox and after being 11-0 up after three ends were always in control as they ran out 30-15 winners.

The Fleet rink of Keith Wyman, Mike Chislett, Ron McCarthy and Doug Rumble found the going tougher up against home skip M Squires and although they fought back from being 14-8 behind at 15 ends, they eventually lost out 16-15.

However, the overall scoreline confirmed Moonfleet’s dominance and they ended the group stage at the top of the pile with nine wins from nine.

Moonfleet were knocked out at the first hurdle in the play-offs last season, but were losing finalists in the three previous years and are looking good to reach that stage again.

They now look forward to the play-off stages as they entertain Westlecot (Swindon) in the first knockout round.

MOONFLEET 41 BANISTER PARK 26

MOONFLEET are through to the quarter-finals of the Leonard Denny Memorial Trophy after a tough examination against a strong Ban-ister Park (Southampton) side.

The win in the double rink competition, featuring some of the best players at both clubs, was built around the convincing win at home for Fleet, backed up by a solid away performance.

At Weymouth, Chris Cook, Pete Read, Doug Rumble and junior international Martin Puckett faced C Higgins, B Barber, S Rice and over-60s’ international Graham Standley.

After a tight start, Moonfleet opened up a 9-5 lead at seven ends.

Five consecutive singles, including a saved six down from Puckett put them 14-7 ahead at 14 ends but a crucial five on the 15th put Fleet in full control.

Although the impressive Standley pulled four back on the following end, the Puckett rink ran out 25-13 winners.

At Banister Park, Keith Wyman, Ron McCarthy, Steve Gait and Barry Patterson put in a fine display against Paul May’s rink.

After finishing runner-up in the National Over-60s’ Singles earlier in the week, Patterson was in fine form along with his Moonfleet colleagues.

They kept the game tight early on leading 4-3 at five ends, 8-7 at 10 and still led by a single at 15.

The Southampton side conceded at home at 18 ends with the Patterson rink 16-13 in front and with the overall score at 41-26.

Moonfleet will now face Desbor-ough in the quarter-finals in what will be a tough fixture as the Berkshire side have a number of internationals and national title winners, but Fleet will be looking forward to taking on one of the favourites for the title.