The Prittlewell duo of Ken Adams and Michael Bowyer will be hoping that the old adage "happiness begins at home" continues to hold firm in the Midland Bank-sponsored Southend Men's Open Bowls Tournament.

For the duo have battled their way through to the semi-finals of the pairs competition on their home Priory Park green.

Not that they are likely to have an easy passage through to the final when the pairs resumes with the battle for the final spots tomorrow morning.

For Adams and Bowyer will have to overcome the considerable presence of one of this year's top Tournament names, Shoebury Park's Kevin Watkins, if they are to make further progress.

Having been the beaten finalist in last week's singles, Watkins is hoping to go one better in the pairs.

Paired with clubmate J Telling, Watkins pulled off some impressive triumphs on the way to the last four.

Their quarter-final success by a 27-10 margin over old campaigner Ken Devaliant (Fairford) was never in real doubt once they opened up a 14-0 lead after six.

However, life had been much tougher in the fourth round when they were fully stretched by highly-successful Southend Tournament bowler Joe Stamper (Lionmede).

Watkins was 19-10 up after 15 ends, but Stamper never knows when he is beaten and picked up 10 shots over the last five. However, a two on the final end saw the Shoebury duo home 21-20.

Adams and Bowyer made the last four with a 27-13 success against the Southchurch Park duo of Southend district treasurer Brian Cue and Ernie Brent.

Cut and Brent were only two down after 16, but then dropped a six to see the Prittlewell men safely home.

Brent and Cue had earlier enjoyed the best win of round four when they beat Tilbury's E Stoddart 17-16 after being 17-10 up with two to go.

In the quarter-finals, the visiting duo from Dunstable, Bedfordshire, Greg Fountain and J Mainwaring, were too strong for Ron Noakes and E Brown (Eastwood) and recorded a 21-13 success.

They now meet Murrayfield's H Waller, who was too good for Essex County's Alec Swan who, despite collecting a seven at one stage, lost 29-17.

The main concentration at Priory Park today was on the fours competition which, by this evening, will have reached the semi-final stages.

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