The Men’s Quarter Finals of the Triples was played tonight, with the headlines being an extra end needed, last end shoot out and the holders stayed on course to retain their title.
First result of this evening saw the holders Gosforth Chris Yeomans, with Josh Minto and BJ Byles beat Mick Bowyer at St. Georges Dragons. The game was tight in the early stages with the Dragons trio holding a slight lead of 5 – 3 after 6 ends, but Yeomans would score on the next 4 ends to lead 10 – 5. Bowyer trimmed the lead to 8 – 10 after 12 ends, but Yeomans would score a 2, drop only a 1, then finish 2, 3, 3 would secure the victory 19 – 9.
Down the coast this evening 2013 winners, 2023 runners up in St. Georges Dragons Michael Cymber, Steve Harvey and Phil Harvey had a hard fought victory, by a slender margin on an extra end over Rockcliffe Rollers Stu Blackett. Harvey’s triple started well, leading 8 nil after 4 ends, but the Rollers hitback and scored on the next 4 ends themselves to only trail 8 – 6. Harvey scored a single on next end but Blackett scored 5 shots on the next two ends to lead 11 – 9. The game ebbed and flowed, and so to did the lead 12 – 11 to Harvey, then Blackett would score 3 singles on ends 14, 15, 16 to lead 14 – 12. Harvey then scored on end 17 and another on 18, to force the game into an extra end (14 all @ 18 ends) and Harvey would not be denied scoring a treble to clinch the tie 17 – 14. Harvey will face Yeomans in the semi-final (neutral green).
The bottom of the half draw, saw Ashington’s Paul Freeman, Chrisian Lowes took on Gosforth’s Paul Timney, alongside Paul tonight was Roy Goldsmith, and Brian Houghton. The game was close in the early stages with Richardson leading 5 – 4 at 5 ends. However, over the next few ends the Ashington lads scored 1, 5, 1, 1 to lead 13 – 4. Singles were exchanged and the lead stood at 15 – 7. Richardson scored a double to lead 17 – 7 at 15 ends, and despite Gosforth’s best efforts, scoring a 2, then a 4 to only trail 17 – 13 going in to the last end, Richardson scored a one to clinch the tie 18 – 13.
The last tie to report on saw at Benfield, where home favourite Jonty King (under Alan Gemmill entry), took on Gosforth’s Michael Bennett. Like other games this evening, this had at all, leads changing, scores dropped and a last end shoot out. Firstly the Benfield trio started well with 4, and a 2 on the first 2 ends, singles were exchanged and the lead stood at 7 – 1 at 4 ends. The Gosforth triple, then scored 1, 6, 2, 2 to lead 12 – 7. But King responded with a 5, to level the game at 12 at the half way stage. Michael then scored two singles to lead 14 – 12 @ 11 ends. But King again hit back, this time with a 7, to lead 19 – 14. Bennett collected a treble on next end, and then a single, to only trail by 1 (18 – 19). King scored a two on end 15 to lead 21 – 18 with 3 ends to go. Bennett scored a 1, then a two, to tie the game at 21 all going in to the final end, and they were not to be denied and collected the vital shot to clinch the win 22 – 21. Dan Bennett, Les Yeomans & Michael Bennett will take on Paul Freeman, Christian Lowes & George Richardson in the semi-finals (neutral venue).
Well done to all concerned this evening.
To view the results and draw – CLICK HERE.