Helmets had to win the match the hard way after scoring a big win in the first game but then losing the next three games and staring at defeat.

Graham Fowler gave Helmets a great start with a 42 point win and this huge aggregate lead kept them in the match through the tense final games.

Matt Tattersall won game two for Miscues and Kevin Slaven scored a hard earned win in game three.

When Dennis Goodwin won game four for Miscues, they held a strong 3-1 lead but still trailed on aggregate by 11 points.

In a nail biting fifth game Paul Hewitt survived the intense pressure to win Helmets’ second point 43-41 leaving Dianne Stait the task on winning game six to advance her team into the major final.

After a somewhat tentative start, Stait proved equal to the task and gradually pulled away to win the game 50-35 and the match 4 points to 3.

Helmets now advance to the major final against Outlaws while Miscues will play a sudden death minor final against Tall Timbers.

Tall Timbers kept their team in the competition after a close match with Pockets, winning the match on aggregate 275-245 after the game score was tied three each.

Graham Ahrenfeld started Pockets off with a resounding 53-25 victory to give the team a great boost.

But Frank Wawn hit back hard for Tall Timbers winning game two by 33 points, giving TTs an aggregate lead they maintained throughout.

Keith Morris increased the lead considerably in game three with a 50-16 win but Garry Milligan tied up the game score 2-2 after winning game four 52-39.

When Maurie Smith won game five for Tall Timbers they held a handy 3-2 and 33 point lead which Pockets’ Jason Murray tried hard to overhaul but could only manage a three point win leaving Tall Timbers winners by 30 points and a place in the minor final against Miscues next week.

The competition tonight is postponed because of the various racing functions in the two clubs, but next week Outlaws will play Helmets for the first spot in the grand final and Miscues host Tall Timbers in the sudden death minor final.