The Men’s Singles continued tonight with the top half of round 2 taking place – with 32 scheduled ties.
The main headlines is 3 former champions remain in the draw – Jonty King (BD) who played on Saturday, Simon Richardson (G). Michael Cymber (ST). But two former champions went out tonight – Michael Bennett (G), Chris Yeomans (G), and a third former champion Peter Duffy (G) who gave his game up, due to his pending knee surgery.
Firstly there was an impressive away win for St. Georges Alan Stewart, defeating Chris Yeomans at Gosforth 21 – 11. Benfield’s 2021 champion Jonty King played his tie on Saturday and recorded an away win 21 – 2 at Astley Park.
Comeback of the night was an all Gosforth affair, and saw Tuan Le was 11 nil down, and 13 – 1 down to win 21 – 20 over clubmate Roy Goldsmith. There were good home wins at Amble, where Alex Bryden beat Gosforth Dylan Slasor 21 – 10, and John Bateman won 21 – 14. Further good home wins were for Collingwood’s Fabian Scott over ex club mate and now St. Georges Dragon Martin Hayden 21 – 13.
Rockcliffe Rollers continued their good season, with two victories, firstly Stu Blackett beating former champion in Michael Bennett (2004), and David Morton at Seaton Sluice, where the game was conceded on health grounds. Two former champions got through at Gosforth, where home favourite Simon Richardson (2023) beat Benfield’s Alan Pomfrey 21 – 15, and Michael Cymber (ST) beat Chris Brown (G). There was a good home win over at our most western club (as in geographical terms) at Haltwhistle BC where home player Martin Rogan won 21 – 20 defeating St. Georges Dragon’s Jonny Morgan. Overall I think it was a good night for the dragons, with good home wins for Keith Miller (21 – 6), Darren Parkes (21 – 9), and away wins for Keith Ellison at Health & Security, beating Stu Williams 21 – 15 and Karlo Jameson winning at Benfield, against Mark Dickinson 21 – 16. Other dragons games had already played – Keith Lowery had won, and Steve Harvey received a walkover last week.
Wooler’s Brian Davidson won at Gosforth, beating Nick Houghton 21 – 17 and Brian will be at home in the next round, facing Shaun Lee Brown of Rockliffe, who received a walkover from Percy’s Steve Roberts. The final results to report saw away wins for Gosforth’s Les Yeomans at Walker St. Peters, beating Bob McKinnon 21 – 15, Benfield’s Paul Proctor won at Rockcliffe 21 – 10, New Delaval Knight’s Graham Sivell won at Cowpen & Crofton 21 – 9, Gosforth’s James Henderson won at St. Georges 21 – 9. And Morpeth’s Nick Armstrong won at Forth beating home favourite Wayne Penton 21 – 18 in a very close contest, and over 25 ends were played.
The last couple of results to advise on saw home wins, this time for Ashington’s George Richardson over Newbiggin’s Barry Burgess, and Tynemouth’s Richard Coates beating Gosforth’s George Bennett, with the score at 14 all, Richard scored 1, 4, and 2 to take the victory.
Next week will see the bottom half of round 2 start – with no fewer than 4 former champions (Richard Train, Phil Harvey, Michael McGreevy, Brian Houghton) and the current holder (Josh Minto) in action.
Thank you for reporting your results in promptly, and if you can please put your tie number on the card. Again well done to all concerned.