Points gap no Handicap for Penman

OUSTON defeated visitors Cramlington Reivers 6-3 to reach the last four of the Northumbria League Handicap Cup.

Neil Wilkinson got the home team off to a flying start as he beat Alex Hinchliffe 2-0 with only a six-point start.

Steve Penman was drafted in from Cramlington Casuals for his first game for Reivers and gave Jeff McKenna a 14-point start but dug in to win the first end 22-20.

McKenna comfortably won the next end to take it to a decider but Penman (pictured below) took the third end 21-19 to secure the match for the Reivers. Tom Fowle played well above his grading as he beat all three Cramlington players in just two ends each.

In the end only McKenna lost any matches as Ouston ran out comfortable victors.

North East Chinese Association’s A team lost 5-3 to visitors Newton B in the second quarter-final.

NECA got off to a flying start as Adam Webster beat Ian Armstrong and Kit Robinson saw off David Lucas and Ian Armstrong.

Chas Robertson then accounted for Webster 2-1.

From here NECA lost the next three matches, giving Newton victory and allowing them to forfeit their final match for an early finish.

Perhaps the closest quarter final was Byker B against Cramlington Corinthians, Byker edging home 5-4.

Byker used Division Two players David Craddock and Mark Patterson supported by Division Three player Tom Manuel against the Corinthians’ Phil Smith, Jamie Hall and Steve Ralph.

Craddock’s combination of low Divison Two grade and above-grade serves means he is a very tough opponent in this format.

He proved this by winning all three of his matches, only being taken to a third end by Smith.

Manuel found it harder despite a one-point start against Smith but was still able to beat Ralph with a four-point advantage.

In the semi-finals, Byker B will host Ouston B and Mount will visit Newton B.