THE following are through to the semi-finals of Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League's Harry Dowson pairs competition following the second round of the event at the Conservativbe Club: Paul Desborough/Andy Chappell (All Stars), Kevin Sedgebeer/Darren Sparks (Reservists), Angus Cleland/Alan Sydenham (Shooters), Jamie Milton/Luke Eggar (All Stars), who were awarded a bye.

Dave Bright reports - Angus Cleland/Alan Sydenham (Shooters) 89, Paul Robinson/Lee Ellis (Cottage Pies) 87: his proved to be the closest game of the evening. It was nip and tuck from the first hand with spare chances few and far between. Good skittling by both pairs saw only one pin separating them as they went into the final hand. The Shooters pair hit 16 leaving Paul and Lee 18 to win, but they just fell short when they knocked 15 to lose by a mere 2 pins. Scores: Angus Cleland 43, Alan Sydenham 46, Paul Robinson 44, Lee Ellis 43.

Liam Desborough/Callum Richardson (All Stars) 72, Kevin Sedgebeer/Darren Sparks (Reservists) 88: Liam Desborough and Callum Richardson of All Stars found it hard going in the second game when they faced Kevin Sedgebeer and Darren Sparks of Reservists in the second game of the evening. Both pairs saw balls go through and pins chop out but Kevin and Darren managed to pick up odd pins to prevail by 16. Scores: Liam Desborough 39, Callum Richardson 33; Kevin Sedgebeer 43, Darren Sparks 45.

Paul Desborough (48)/Andy Chappell (52) (All Stars) 100, Ryan Skeels (45)/Scott Newberry (42) (Holywell Lake) 87: The final game of the evening produced the first spares and the highest score of the round. After the first two hands the Holywell Lake duo led by a solitary pin, but the third hand saw Andy Chappell hit a 16 to put his team in control; they pulled another pin in the fourth hand to go into the final two hands six pins to the good.

A 13 spare from Paul helped his team to a 19 hand which saw them pull an extra six pins. Their final hand of 14 left Ryan and Scott the mammoth task of hitting 27 to win. As hard as they tried this proved to be beyond the Holywell Lake pairing and they went down by 13 pins. Scores: Paul Desborough 48, Andy Chappell 54; Ryan Skeels 45, Scott Newberr 43.

The semi finals and final are scheduled for next Wednesday to run alongside the singles final.