News item dated 28-04-08

The pairs preliminary round is best of 3 games 701; one game only between each pairing at the venue. Catholic Club Venue Board One: S. Hudson & P. Whales (Harton & Westoe) v John Sanderson & Jeff Wright (Brighams); D. Goodall & S. Fleming (Harton & Westoe) v J. Todd & P. Todd (Harbour Lights); B. Fenwick & P. Whale (Harbour Lights) v G. Radcliffe & D. Parker (Hospital Club); G. Thompson & Partner (New Mill) v K. Garrick & S. Hales (Harton & Westoe). Catholic Club Venue Board Two: M. Keinan & D. Keinan (Harbour Lights) v K. Elliott & John Davison (Beehive Room); K. Fox & J. Rogers (Rose & Crown) v Paul Hunter & R. Davies (Harbour Lights); G. McTavy & Derek Pearce (Hospital Club C) v S. Pollard & J. Warwick (Trams); Billy Bays & J. Bailey (Beehive Bar) v Harry Lovatt & B. Edwards (Hospital Club). Royal British Legion Venue Board One: J. Boak & J. Neilsen (Annies) v R. Garvey & J. Brabon (Trams); C. Allen & W. Davison (Beehive) v L. Lawlan & D. Lamb (Hospital Club); John Naughton & Derek Boak (Annies) v S. Wann & P. Scott (Beehive); C. Ferguson & S. Bucket (Cyprus) v I. Lyall & Brian Abdou (Unionist). Royal British Legion Venue Board Two: Michael Edgerton & Jeff Egglestone (Ashley B) v M. Main & I. Parker (Hospital Club); G. Carr & Dave Ross (St Oswald's) v D. Habbershaw & D. Stephenson (Dock); Richard Hadley & Dean Elstob (Ashley B) v A. Furlong & D. Taylor (Steamboat); G. McGurk & J. Grech (Beehive) v B. Benjamin & I. Smith (Cyprus). The Dock Venue Board One: J. Harrison & A. Birt (Ashley A) v C. Gandy & R. Bell (Steamboat); J. Swallwell & G. Lynn (Hospital) v J. Sherwin & J. Hass (The Bridge); Larry Brown & Terry Power (Ashley A) v D. Tully & P. Bassett (County); Dave McDonald & Sean Davison (Hospital A) v N. Davison & L. Bullha (Unionist). The Dock Venue Board Two: T. Mather & R. Hunter (Persy) v Kev Lees & A. Goodwin (Sima Club C); Paul Johnson & David Barnes (County) v Paul Rutland & Stephen Robinson (Ashley A); J. Taroni & L. Cummings (Trams) v D. Peterkin & M. Wilson (Top Club); S. McGeary & D. Fox (Rose & Crown) v I. Addison & T. Nilson (Top Club). Stanhope Venue Board One: D. Hurst & S. Clements (British Legion) v D. Maughan & B. Hassan (Unionist); R. Smith & T. White (Beehive) v Tommy Young & Micky Graham (Armstrong B); Lenny Stephenson & Partner (The Bridge) v M. Rutter & Keith Addams (Sima Club B); P. Hickmott & Derek Wright (Hospital C) v J. Clark & P. Goodsir (New Ship). Stanhope Venue Board Two: K. Mensforth & J. Shaw (Sima Club) v A. Stevens & I. Pippin (New Mill); M. Purvis & R. Purvis (Hospital Club) v A. Thompson & K. Scott (Beehive); D. Hann & Robert Crammon (Rose & Crown) v William Burn & B. Haligan (Cyprus); Kenny Stephenson & Paul Finnerty (Top Club Room) v Willie Sykes & L. Bennett (Hospital Club B). Cyprus Venue Board One: G. Lowes & P. Bengston (Hospital Club) v John Ramsay & Dave Whitehead (Catholic Club B); Brian Nellist & Tony Swallwell (Sima Arms B) v H. Gray & H. Gray (Armstrong A); G. Taylor & Partner (Fountain) v K. Taylor & Brian Murphy (Fountain); M. Newsome & P. Davies (Persy) v J. Maughan & Colin Goodwin (Armstrong A)