In the first semi final here at Newton Hall Holiday Park at Blackpool it was Jamie Chestney, newcomer into the WBT Rankings at No.14 up against No 3, Robert Paxton and it was Chestney that got off to a flying start in the first set. Although Paxton picked up 3 shots in the first two ends it was Chestney that stopped him dead in his tracks with superb touch bowls as he took the next 5 ends on the trot to go 8-3 up in the opening set. Paxton managed a single in the 8th but it was Chestney that sealed it with a single on the 9th to take the set 9-4.
The second set settled down as Paxton came back at Chestney and by end 6 it was 3-5 to Paxton - but then the wheels came off for Paxton as he uncharacteristically dropped a full house of 4 with some extraordinary loose bowls - he managed to take a single on the 8th but then his fate was sealed as Chestney ran the jack into the back ditch and it was impossible for Paxton to then make the shots he needed to force the tie break. Chestney took the 2nd set 9-6 and a place in today’s final later this afternoon against the winner of Mark Dawes and Stewart Anderson.