TORQUAY United's Sam Tolchard started the year as he means to carry on with the Commonwealth Games-bound England international starring in his club's Egham Trophy win over West Sussex club side Adur 85-60 on Sunday.

Played on a neutral green at Poole, Tolchard and the equally impressive Craig Down joined forces with Terri Kennard and Julia Barnes to pulverise Adur skip Leigh Prince 28-8.

Devon's other big winner was the rink of Cassidy Lenton, Ruth Rogers, Robbie Murch and Griff Sanders who came back from 8-2 down to defeat John Godfrey 26-10.

Amanda Higginbotham, Hannah Tucker, Ian Lesley and John Evans won 16-15 and although Sophie Tolchard, Ann Bunclark, Mark Evans and James Webber went down 27-15, Torquay United's overall 25-shot margin of victory put them into the national semi-finals of the competition on January 24.

Torquay will play Croydon on the neutral green at Bournemouth after the Surrey club side beat Mote Park (Kent) 75-70.

City of Ely beat York 94-59 and will play either North Walsham or Riverain (Herts) in the other semi-final.

Less than 24 hours before the match, a classic EIBA national fours clash saw Joe Melmore, Craig Down, James Webber and Sam Tolchard beat former British Isles champions Simon Broom, Nathan Farrant, Simon Stevens and world ranked Ian Bond (Exonia) 21-18 at Torquay United.

Tolchard was 5-0 down but hit back to lead 16-11 before a four from Bond put the Exonia skip ahead at 18-16 with just three ends to go.

"It was nip and tuck all the way through," said Exonia's Simon Stevens. "Bondy saved us a couple of times in the latter stages with some great bowls."

But Torquay took control to go 20-18 up after 20 ends and, in a see-saw final end, Tolchard had the last word.