Kent Priory Champions Dulwich beat Sussex Champions Corals of Brighton in the SE area semi-finals of the National Cup.

Dulwich’s running man Jason got the team off to a flying start with a straight games win over World Deaf Champion Jamie Matthews. Barry edged the first but had to claw back from 4-8 in the second before easing home.

Meanwhile Will Brownsdon was having a tough tussle with Aussie Dave Mann. The Corals Mann took the first but Brownsdon showed his now legendary fighting spirit by winning the second and fighting tooth & nail for the third. Unfortunately, it was the gritty Aussie to snuck it 14/12 and was able to tie the match up with a 3-1 win.

Meanwhile the number 1s were also involved in a tough battle. Dulwich captain Garner was ahead all the way in the first but it was Nightingale to stole in on the rails to take the game. Garner bounced back in the second & third and looked to be home at 10-7 in the fourth, but Nightingale roared (literally) back and took the game to a tie break. However, Garner managed to squeeze out the win and again put Dulwich’s nose in front.

Brendan Hughes faced the talented Corals’ captain, Ben Hutton, at third string and was under the cosh early on. However, Hughes worked hard to put some pressure on Hutton and was unlucky not to close out a 7-3 lead in the third going down in straight games to set up a decider.

Ex-junior England international Paul Taylor was left with the job of sealing victory, and he went out it with his trade style hammering in winners and leaving opponent Dan Clark looking somewhat bewildered. The three nil victory took Dulwich in to the area final.

Dulwich bt Corals 3-2
Tim Garner bt Phil Nightingale 9/11, 11/6, 11/8, 12/10
Jason Barry bt Jamie Matthews 11/9, 11/8, 11/5
Brendan Hughes lst Ben Hutton 2/11, 7/11, 9/11
Will Brownsdon lst Dave Mann 7/11, 11/9, 12/14, 7/11
Paul Taylor bt Dan Clark 11/5, 11/3, 11/4