Semi finals of the Norman Illiffe Cup take place in air rifle league

THE Hinckley Air Rifle League’s only knockout competition, the Norman Illiffe Cup, this week reached the semi-final stages leaving just four teams competing.

The closest result came from the meeting at the Hinckley Working Men’s Club between the Sporting Lions and their guests from Ashby Road ‘B’. The visitors won the toss and, having decided to shoot first, opened the match in a solid, if unspectacular, fashion as back to back 26.2s from Neil Price and Kim Baker were followed by Martyn Wood’s 25.1.

They did improve after this thanks to Jon Storer’s 27.2 and Mike Sansome’s 29.4 but the improvement looked unlikely to be enough as the Lions immediately responded with Glen Dainter’s 29.3 and Todd Astill’s 29.4. The remainder of their second half weren’t quite up to their normal standard with Karl Bunting’s 27.3 being followed by the 27.1s of Jeanette Mulkeirins and Melanie Jenkins but were more than enough to give them a sizeable lead at half time.

This lead appeared insurmountable, particularly after Ashby Road’s second half added just Alf Shore’s 26.1 and Jeff Goodyer’s 26, but the Lions’ own second half struggled more than a little as Peter Dainter and Mollie Harris both scored disappointing 24.1s. Fortunately these were just enough to give them the victory by 187.5 to 186.2.

Despite only having six regular shooters the team from Bedworth ExServicemen’s Club have an enviable scoring consistency which is how they came to be in position to visit The Barn in Barwell for their semi-final against Taylor & Ayre.

On winning the toss the visitors shot first, with successive players improving on the preceding score throughout. Mick Cryer started with a 26.1, stand-in Ricki Hammersley followed with 27, Jackie Bend hit one clean bull in her 28.1, and James Bend raised the bar further with a 29.3. Bob Wagstaff started and ended his effort with pairs of clean fives giving him a 29.4 whilst their only second half shooter, Bill Bend, showed the league how it can be done by scoring clean bulls with all six shots, scoring a perfect 30.6.

In their reply T&A were never really in the hunt. Aly Steele’s opening 26.1 was followed by Glen Foxon’s 25 and Giles Headley’s 29.3. John Orton came next with an above average 25.1 after which Paul Griffin closed the half with his 26.1.

Phil Steele opened their second half with a 26, all Alison Smith’s bulls were clean in her 28.4, and Norman Hall closed the match with his 25.2.

All of this left the match ending 195.5 to 186.2 in Bedworth’s favour, setting up a repeat of last season’s Bedworth versus Sporting Lions final.