he semi finals of the Thompson Knock Out Cup were held last Thursday when Wilmcote, who won the competition in 2006/07, could only field a team of six shooters against eight shooting for Binton A in their match at the Home Guard Club, Tiddington. Home Guard and MEB, who won the competition last year, both fielded teams of eight for their match which was at Binton Sports and Social Club.

In the first match, Wilmcote shot only fours and bulls to keep every shooter's score in the thirties. Tim Stephens and Andy Morris both shot 33, John Maycock, Gareth Morris and Alan Brookes all shot 32 and Lyn Brookes shot 30. The Binton team were on the whole less accurate. Neil Beningfield had the highest score with 33 then Andy Smith together with John Parrott both shot 32. Simon and Michelle Dale both hit 31 then with a smattering of threes, Phil Hemming and Will Cemis managed 29's and Gary Hooper 28 which proved to be Binton's scratched score. Binton finished on 217 but with an A N Other score Wilmcote finished on 220 and secured a place in the final.

In the second semi final, Home Guard's opening shooters saw too many threes and the match slipped away from them as MEB kept out of the threes for scores in the thirties. Though the middle ranks were more evenly matched, Home Guard's final two shooters were left with too much to do to pull the match around and the team lost by three points. Colin Fulford shot 33 and Carl Villiers 32 then Sam Goodman scored 31. Steve Hodges found two bulls for 30 but with low scores from Richard Mills and Ben Goodman 28 and Jackie Mills and Bill Gately 27, the team had to settle for 209pts. MEB's Paul Clingan and Richard Groom shot 32's and Alison McMillan 31. Fred Williams and Carl McMillan got 30 each and Jan Beattie kept out of the threes for 29. Kath Williams shot a string of fours for 28 and Gordon Spencer starter with three threes then four fours for 25 which proved to be the scratched score leaving the team with 212pts and a date with Wilmcote in the final which will be held on 30 April at a neutral venue to be decided at the Delegates Meeting on 7 April.
 

Tonight (9 April) the penultimate round of the Webley Shield takes place when Avenue-RBL meet Guards; Binton B shoot against Home Guard and MEB meet Wilmcote in what could be considered to be a rehearsal for the Thomson final?
 

Report by Juana Everett, to be published on 9th April 2009