Summer Cup holders Bob Carter lost their grip on the trophy as Wymondham inflicted a 6-2 home defeat on their fierce rivals at Drayton in a semi-final thriller. Neil Davidson made a surprise return to the Wymondham team for the first time this summer and his performance at lead in Chris Mann’s triple provided a solid foundation in two excellent wins. With their impressive form this season, particularly on their own mats, Carter began as firm favourites. Jason Woods, David Lamb & Gary Best, with former Kent star Best in tremendous form, opened with a superb 21-7 win against Wymondham’s captain Mark Linsdell playing with Debbie Sparham & Jack Pye. What they had hoped would be the beginning of another huge home win failed to materialize though as on the other mat Neil Davidson, Jon Sparham & Chris Mann (pictured) stormed to an 18-4 win against Nigel Willard, Simon Willies & Melvin Woods leaving the scores level on points and shots at the interval. After the break John Turner replaced Nigel Willard in Melvin Woods’ triple and they started well to take a 12-6 lead against Jack Pye’s Wymondham triple. But it all went wrong for the Carter triple in the closing stages as Jack Pye’s triple won the last six ends to clinch a vital 16-12 win. In the other game Davidson, Sparham & Mann recovered from a sluggish start to beat Jason Woods, David Lamb & Gary Best 22-11. Mann’s triple dominated the game towards the end except for a dropped five on the fourteenth end that was by that time irrelevant. Wymondham will face the winners of the other semi-final between Kirby Bedon and Thorpe Marriott.
