In the second leg of the semi-finals Eight Bells travelled to Cornard Five Bells with a 5-2 lead, where the home side won the first four games to take an overall lead for the first time in the match.

Eight Bells took the last three to record an aggregate 8-6 victory.

Pete Lillie and Bob Hedley beat Graham Rolfe and Kevin Sparkes 1,890-1,130 and Malcolm Groome and Terry Parker, who scored an important 530 break, edged out John Raine and Paul Leathers 1,180-1,060.

The first singles game saw a titanic struggle between Lillie and Eight Bells captain Melvin Tilbury and the latter seemed to be coasting to victory when holding a 1,000-plus lead, only for his opponent to score two consecutive 400s.

There was nothing to choose between Groome and Leathers, but when the Eight Bells man missed the ball and dislodged the black peg there was no time left for a fight back.

The visitors now had their backs against the wall but Raine continued this year's good form and beat Hedley 1,960-600, and when Rolfe played a most consistent game and easily outscored Parker 2,360-530 the tie was back in the melting pot.

The final game matched Five Bells skipper Del Atton against Charlie Townsend, and once the latter had made an opening break of 510 the pressure was always on the Atton, who could not to haul back his opponent and went down 1,250-730.

Wild Horses held a 5-2 lead over Edwardstone White Horse and took both doubles without much trouble to extend their aggregate lead.

James Pipe for the White Horse showed that his team were not going to be rolled over and put in a great performance to beat Melvyn Willis 2,480-1010 to reduce the arrears.

Wild Horses then got back into overdrive and Doedy Munson put the tie out of reach with an easy 2,080-320 win against Janet Whymark. Low-scoring wins by Marje Rose and Paul Rose against Alison Perry and Sam Whymark respectively bought more misery to the White Horse.

But Mike Gooderham managed to beat Tracy Reeve in the final game 1,030-770 to make the final score 5-2 in favour of the Wild Horses and an aggregate 10-4 victory.

Tonight sees the firstound of the Singles KO at Castle Hedingham Wheatsheaf and Preston Six Bells. Players are reminded that play will start at 8pm as there are ten games to be played.