Millington moves into the final
Defending champion Paul Millington was first into the 'A' final, despatching Russell Hunter in straight games. The match started at Paul's favoured ferocious pace, and Russell was minded to join in. There were some tremendous rallies in the first game, and the 9/2 scoreline scarcely did Russell justice for the effort he'd put in.
One observer (ok, it was me) forecast that the Alnwick man was unlikely to be able to keep that pace up, and so it proved as Paul raced to an 8-0 lead in the second with Russell now well under the cosh. Much to his own annoyance Paul tinned his first game ball opportunity, and Russell took advantage to claw a few points back. 9/4 this time, which on the balance of play was probably more than Russell merited.
He had some momentum now though, and managed to take an early lead in the third. At last managing to dominate some of the exchanges, and extracting a few errors from his opponent, Russell moved to a 7/2 advantage. That was as good as it got though, Paul tightened up, took control of the 'T', and took seven points in a row to clinch the match, 9/7.
"Too fast for me," said Russell afterwards. "I thought I played well in the first and got nowhere, but I got slaughtered in the second. I think he eased off in the third, but when I got to seven I thought I'd take that game. I wouldn't have won the match, but it would have been nice to take a game."
In truth Russell was beaten at his own favourite game - fast, hard, low, giving your opponent no time to think. "That's what I'm going to do to one these on Saturday," threatened the pummelled loser as he watched Ferret Fargher take on Joker Ward for the other place in the final.
Glenn took the first game in that match (which I didn't see as both semis were on at the same time), but thereafter Peter imposed his game to come out the 3/1 winner and set up a final which should be a real clash of styles - it could be a cracker.
John's out of gas
Incident of the night was John Thompson's late arrival. John works at Nissan and took delivery of a new Quaskhai (you know what I mean) today, and naturally assumed there was enough petrol in it to get him from Nissan to Asda in Boldon. Nope ... he didn't even make the A19, sputtering to a halt on the sliproad. A quick call to security brought him a canful, but of course his battery was flat too. To cut a long story short, he got here and won both his matches.
Friday frolics
With the ladies' first team having an away match tonight, their semis are tomorrow, which should be the busiest day of the lot with the doubles event alongside all the tidying-up main draw matches. Action starts at 6pm and it promises to be a late night ...
Steve Cubbins
