Tonight saw the conclusion of the Men’s Pairs with round 3 being finished this evening. Two ties were played earlier, one was the current champions Gosforth’s Josh Minto & Chris Yeomans, who played on Monday evening against Jan & Paul Walton at Westerhope BC. And Yeomans needed extra time to get over the line, as on the 18th end Yeomans was 2 behind in the game, and with last bowl in hand needed to move the jack for a 2 to get an extra end. Yeomans managed to trail the jack slightly and scored the double to force an extra end. Minto & Yeomans won the extra end, and will now face club mates Peter Duffy & Chris Palmer next week, as Duffy & Palmer overcome their club colleagues James McKenna & Mal Cooper tonight 16 – 13. The other tie played early was at St. Georges, which saw home pair of Alan Gemmill & Keith Ellison record a comprehensive win over Seaton Sluice’s Ian Dickinson 23 – 6.
There were a number of close contests tonight, St. Georges Dragons pair of Michael Cymber & Phil Harvey needed two extra ends to win against Wooler’s Brian Davidson (although Brian didn’t play) – Richard Henthorn & John Guthrie (to note first extra end was a dead met). Phil will now travel to Gosforth next week to play Billy Gibson, as Gibson won by 1, actually scoring a 4 on the last end to win 16 – 15 against Cramington’s Jacky Taylor & Bryan Turner. The last game to be won by 1 was Morpeth’s Bob Leeson who got the better of Forth’s Eddie Young 16 – 15.
In other close games tonight so a home win for New Delaval Knight’s pair of Tom Symons & Ant Barke who defeated Newbiggin’s Billy Waters & Lee Birch; but the game swung on some key bowls played, on the 9th end with the game poised at 6 – 4, Barke was 5 down and dragged the jack for a count of 4, and on the 12th end with the score line being 13 – 12 Barke faced a similar position, and drew the jack back to score a treble. This proved decisive as Symons & Barke won 19 – 15. Next week Barke will also travel to Gosforth to take on Train & Richardson, as they won at Portland BC tonight 17 – 10 beating Willy Thompson & Bill Blyth.
There were some good home wins tonight, at Collingwood there were two, firstly Tom Birdsey & John Coulter beat Gosforth’s Paul Timney & Jimbo Curtis 23 – 5 and the other Collingwood duo of Martin Hayden & Michael Watson beat New Delaval Knight’s Graeme Robinson & Ryan Warnes-Hall 20 – 9. St. Georges Dragons Alan Stewart & Steve Harvey won 20 – 2 over North Shields West End’s Neville Connell & Vince Carrick. Ashington’s George Richardson (although George had a sub tonight – Paul Freeman), playing with Christian Lowes beat the Walker St. Peters duo of J & D Slasor 18 – 13. There was better news of Slasor’s clubmates, with Grant Miller beating Cramlington’s Dave Clough 20 – 16. Health & Security’s Rory Adamson & Stu Williams won a tight game against Seghill’s Ian Nolan 14 – 11. The last home victory was at Haltwhistle BC, which saw father & son duo in George & Martin Rogan defeat Benfield’s Stan Lant & Jonny Morgan 23 – 13.
The last game to advise was an away win at Rothbury BC, where another father & son combination, this time in Gosforth’s Dan & Michael Bennett defeat home favourites David Bolton & Rob Donkin 19 – 9.
Next week is round 4 with ties scheduled for Thursday evening. To view tonight results & draw – CLICK HERE.