Senior Challenge Cup and Plate Semi-finals
The Challenge Cup once again produced some exciting matches but the handicap back-markers came through in the end.
Deeside (scratch, owe one hand) beat Mold (-4) 13-3 in matches and 234 points to 108. Deeside were too strong overall but in 4 th mixed Steve Barlow and Melissa Caswell lost the first game 13-15 to juniors Jonathan Savory and Rebekah Wynn and also only halved both mens doubles. At 1 st Ashlea Oxborough and Christian Pistor lost the second game 14-15 to Joe Pugh and Josh Wynn and at 2 nd Barlow and Gareth Thomas lost their first game 12-15 to Ian Cowling and Savory.
Flint A (-4, owe one hand) had a convincing victory 13-3 victory over Denbigh A (scratch) but the point count was closer – 195 to 126. Flint were only up 5-3 after the mixed doubles and there were signs of a possible shock. Top pair Paul McCracken and Hannah Stephenson won the first game 15-4 but lost heavily 3-15 in the second to Martin Williams and Helen Evans. Juniors Ben Travers and Jane Jones found the handicap difficult to handle against some never-say-die hitting and running by Peter Williams and Flis Hughes, losing - 2-15, - 1-15.
The Plate Semis were closer.
Holywell A (-2) beat White Horse (scratch) 10-6 but only 194-174 on points. Holywell led 5-3 after the mixed. Ewan and Nichola Mitchell halved 12-15, 15-7 against Laurence O'Donnell and Rhian Povey. Nick Jones and Nora Dunn won 15-7, 15-7 against Dave Edwards and Alison Williams. George Hood and Anne Booth lost both games to Andy Tustain and Kerry Williams 11-15,6-15. Dave Davies and Becky Booth won 15-3, 15-10 against Tim Blackshaw and Lynn Coxey.
The Ladies doubles saw a great fight back by White Horse, Holywell losing 1-3 in games, Dunn and Mitchell going down 3-15, 1-15 to Povey and K Williams, Booth and Booth halved with A Williams and Coxey 15-14, 11-15.
Holywell clinched the match by winning all four mens doubles, Mitchell and Jones winning a close match 15-12, 15-12, Hood and Davies won convincingly 15-6, 15-6.
In the other Semi Rossett (-5) dominated Denbigh B (scratch) 13-3 in games and 210-158 on points.
Simon Lane, Sue Lord, Mark Lovatt, Mel Howe, Neil Pritchard all won both their matches. Denbigh's successes were Rana Daz and Denise Pierce halving with Peter Watkins and Janette Davies 15-10, 13-15 and Julie Prydderch and Denise Pierce winning brilliantly against Janette Davies and Barbara Lonatt 15-5, 15-0.
The Finals of the Cup (Deeside [scratch] v Flint A [-16]) and Plate (Rossett [-3] v Holywell A [scratch]) will be played at Flint Pavilion on 11 th April.