By David Rhys Jones

A confident Clevedon quartet skipped by John Hick, and with former England star Pip Branfield at second, will challenge the Welsh champions from Machynlleth in Belfast this morning for a place in British Isles fours championship final.

With Branfield's son James at lead, and Darran Mason playing third, Clevedon charged into a 16-6 lead over a Jersey rink skipped by Tim Murphy, then held on to win the quarter-final encounter quite comfortably, 23-15.

They face Wales in the semi-final this morning.

The shock of the day was the unscheduled exit of talented Torquay teenager Sam Tolchard, the rising star of the sport, who is widely touted to occupy England's singles berth in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Tolchard, whose uncle Roger kept wicket for England, lost 21-8 to Welsh unknown Roger Jones, who reached the final of the singles with a 21-16 win over Scottish champ Wayne Hogg.

Tomorrow will be a big day for Neil Kunc of Bridgwater BCL – when he steps on to the green to play against Wales in Belfast, the 26-year-old Somerset star will be making his international debut for England.

British Isles bowls championships, Belfast results. Singles – quarter-finals: R Jones (Wales) bt S Tolchard (England) 21-8; M Le Ber (Guernsey) bt I McClure (Ireland) 21-16.

Semi-finals: Jones bt W Hogg (Scotland) 21-16; Le Ber bt A Quemard (Jersey) 21-20.

Pairs quarter-finals: A Meikle & A Holden (England) bt T & C Mulholland (Ireland) 23-18; D Hush & J Hogg (Scotland) bt T Murphy & T Allen (Jersey) 24-10.

Semi-finals: M Selway & I Henderson (Wales) bt Meikle & Holden 19-18.

Triples quarter-finals: R Mann, R Tansley, V Geary (England) bt J Young, J Bell, M McCallum (Scotland) 23-7; B Bisson, T & D Allen (Jersey) bt P Hookings, M Lewis, M Davies (Wales) 18-13.

Semi-finals: D & G McElroy, C Dennison (Ireland) bt England 20-19 (aee).

Fours quarter-finals: J Branfield, P Branfield, D Mason, J Hick (England) bt P Mavity, H Carre, C O'Callaghan, T Murphy (Jersey) 23-15; G Collins, W Baker, L Le Ber, G Pitschou (Guernsey) bt J Reid, A McIlravey, R Lynn, I Brown (Scotland) 25-9.

Semi-finals: Guernsey bt S Colvin, R & B Kane, M McKeeman (Ireland) 24-12; England v D Rowlands, M Gaskell, B & A Fleming (Wales) to be played today.

Under-25 singles quarter-finals: M Thomas (Wales) bt C McCall (Ireland) 21-9; I McMillan (Scotland) w/o, M Le Ber (Guernsey) scr.

Semi-finals: Thomas w/o, J MacDonald (Jersey) scr; McMillan bt A Sexton (England) 21-10.