The Men’s 2nd round of the fours was played tonight on a lovely summers evening!
There were a number of close contests and some notable and decisive comebacks this evening. First up on the comeback trail was up Portland BC, where Rob Donkin’s rink, skipped by David Bolton took on young Gren Richardson; Richardson raced in to a 11 – 1 lead after 7 ends, but for the Portland quartet they only scored 2 more singles and Bolton with 2 trebles on the 17th and 18th ends wrapped up the victory, winning 19 – 13. Next up on the comebacks was St. Georges Dragons Phil Harvey, who took on the quartet that beat the holders last Friday in Collingwood’s Ian Brown. Brown got off to a great start scoring a 5 on the very first end, and a 4 and 3 on ends 3 and 4, so after end 4 Brown led 12 – 1. Harvey hit back decisively scoring 19 shots in 7 of the next 8 ends, to lead 20 – 13. This gap more or less stayed through the remaining ends and Harvey, along with his father Steve, and brother Connor and Michael Cymber leading won 22 – 18.
Harvey’s St. Georges clubmates were in all St. George’s battle, where last years 4’s runners up Alan Stewart took on Neil Aitchison. Stewart led through the early exchanges and led at 10 ends 11 – 7, but Aitchison picked up a 2, 5 and 4 on 3 of the next 4 ends to lead 18 – 12. This gap was maintained and Aitchison won 21 – 15.
The last comeback to report on was at Gosforth BC , where home player Michael Bennett (skipped by Mal Cooper) played Walker St. Peters Dylan Slasor; Cooper led 12 – 5 at 8 ends, but Slasor scored on 5 of the next 6 ends, including a count of 6 and turned the game round to lead 21 – 13. The game played out and Slasor won 22 – 14.
In addition to the comebacks above there were a number of away wins this evening, Forth’s Wayne Penton won at Portland BC, beating Willy Thompson 16 – 15. Benfield’s Matty Bishop (skipped by Alan Proctor) won at Gosforth & Coxlodge, beating Nick Houghton 17 – 13. At Forest Hall the Wooler quartet skipped by John Guthrie (entry under Brian Davidson – Brian wasn’t available tonight), and Guthrie beat Chris Coan 15 – 10 (skipped by Dave Bell). Walker St. Peters Peter Brewis (skipped by Terry Hunter) won at Portland BC, defeating David Pygall 19 – 9. The final away victories to report were down at the coast, and saw St. Georges Dragons’ Gary Myerscough win impressively at Percy, beating David Leslie 24 – 6; and last but no means least Gosforth’s Jimmy Curtis (another away game!) won at Rockcliffe 21 – 8.
The final game to advise was an impressive home win at Seghill BC for Ian Nolan, where Nolan beat Morpeth’s Wally Ray 23 – 17. Final result to come in was a home victory at Collingwood for Michael London, skipped by Alsop player Alan Gibson, who defeated Seaton Sluice’s Ian Dickinson 18 – 12.
There is one game that I am aware of only played a handful of ends and this game will be concluded over the weekend (B Rodgerson v C Palmer).
Well done for everyone that played this evening. I acknowledge the weather and conditions were not the best. We also need to be careful from a safety point of view, people slipping, falling over etc.
Here is a link to the results and the draw.