Tonight (Thursday) brought round 3 of the Men’s Pairs, and saw the current holders stay on course in there quest to retain the title but the 2019 runners up went out on the last end.
Michael Cymber & Simon Richardson
Holders and Gosforth’s Michael Cymber & Simon Richardson faced club mates and former champions in Michael Bennett & Steve Harvey this evening, in a high quality game there was little between the sides early on but Richardson edged ahead 6 – 3 (after 3 all), and unfortunately for Harvey he gave the shot away, and this was further compounded on the next end where Richardson scored a decisive count of 5, to take control at 12 – 3 after 8 ends. The lead was maintained and Cymber & Richardson went on to win 17 – 10.
Across the green at Gosforth runners up from St. Georges Darren Parkes & Phil Harvey faced the Gosforth (and Scottish duo) of James McKenna & John Hardie, in another quality contest Hardie held a slender after 10 ends, and they stretched this to 13 – 8 after 13 ends, but Harvey hit back to score a count of 5, then a 1 and 2 to put themselves 16 – 13 ahead with 2 ends to play. But McKenna & Hardie scored a 1, then McKenna and scored 3 shots on the last end to take the tie 17 – 16. Another game at Gosforth saw an impressive away win for Seaton Sluice’s Paul Erskine & Iain Dickinson over home player’s Dan Targar & Mick McGreevy 19 – 15, and the final result at the West Avenue club saw Gosforth’s Jim Curtis win 25 – 8 over Health & Security’s Stu Williams.
Other results tonight saw an impressive home win for Cramlington’s Ashley Endacott & Paul Timney, where they defeated Gosforth’s Les Yeomans & Brian Houghton 26 – 7 (after opening an 11 nil lead after 4 ends, and 15 – 1 after 6 ends). Timney now faces an away game against holders Cymber & Richardson next week.
Timney’s Cramlington colleagues also had a good night – with Kevin Miles defeating Wally Ray at Morpeth, and Keith Miller winning at Forth against Tommy McMullen after an extra end. St. Georges Alan Stewart & Karl Jameson recorded a good away win, only edging in front on the last 2 ends, where Jameson took a bowl out for 4 on the second last end, and Jameson drew the shot on the last to secure the tie 15 – 13. Jameson now faces another away trip, this time at Seaton Sluice where they face Iain Dickinson. Jameson’s team mates Paul Lawson scored a very good away win at Seaton Sluice, defeating Shane Cooper 27 – 3.
Former champions and Gosforth’s Josh Minto & Chris Yeomans won at Benfield, defeating Stan Lant & Jonny Morgan, another away win saw Newbiggin’s Lee Birch winning at Portland against John Bartlett. The final results saw home wins for Willington Quay’s Ken Tipton & Derek Palmer over Rothbury’s Mark Heron & Graeme Donkin 17 – 13, but there was better news for Graeme’s father Rob, who won at home against Alanwick’s George Batey, Percy’s Stuart Graham-Scott beat Benfield’s Alam Pomfrey 26 – 13, and New Delaval’s Aaron Robson won 14 – 13 against Gosforth’s Steve & Dane Ross.
The next round – round 4 is scheduled for next Thursday.