Today sees the semi-finals of the Palace Bingo-sponsored men's pairs at the Great Yarmouth Bowls Festival.

The first semi-final will see Tim Cox and Terry Gibson take on Mark Turner and Trevor Jermy.

Yesterday the Gibson pair beat T Ramsey and T Haigh 21-12 to go through to what proved a thriller against M Brooks and N Carter.

After five ends they trailed 12-3 and were still three behind after 10. The game remained close over the final ends but Cox and Gibson took the spoils, winning 20-19.

They had shown their nerve in the quarter-finals, when they defeated S Carr and R French 18-17 – after going into the last end two behind.

The Gibson pair were behind 13-1 after eight ends before a run of eight shots without reply put them back into the contest.

The Jermy pair needed a four on the last end to draw level with P Parsons & P Emmerson at 17-17, then gained a single shot on the extra end to go through to meet D Bailey & R Allen, who they beat more easily. 24-9. In the quarter-finals they hit a purple patch against N Blyth & D Mitchell – a run of 14 shots without reply helping them to win 26-10.

In the other semi-final J Sims and A Chambers will played C Riches and M Royal with Riches standing in for A Dunton. Sims and Chambers beat G Todhunter & D Camp 25-15 and D Brookes & P Exley 26-18 before a six helped to defeat D Green/C Ward 35-16 in the quarters. Dunton and Royal had little trouble against G Stokes and D Long, winning 27-14 before beating father and son J & M Tufts 22-5 after just 14 ends and I Catchpole and J Willgress 24-15.

Play starts today at 9am with the final due around 12.45pm. The final of the Astro Communications-sponsored under-25 singles is set to take place at 2pm.