FOX & Hounds No 2 (Blackburn) staged a brilliant comeback to progress to this year’s North West Small Tables Championship semi finals.

The Blackburn outfit pulled back deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 to beat the strongly fancied Clitheroe British Legion.

The Legion got off to a flier, before Fox skipper Lee Entwistle stopped the rot with a sterling performance against the experienced McQuade.

Garner made it 3-1 Clitheroe before Ian Haworth ran out a comfortable winner against Dave Walmsley. Jake O’Horo then beat Mark Riley and veteran Bob Dewhurst got the better of Steve Almond to seal a famous victory.

Fox’s opponents in the semi final will be another Blackburn team, Longshaw No 2 who beat Blackpool’s Layton Club. Longshaw raced into a 3-0 lead with good wins for 66 year old veteran Neil Payton who chose this night to knock in the highest break of his 54 year career, a fabulous of 78, against Chris Meakin. Tom Whittle beat Nick Shorrock and Chris Rolfe narrowly overcame Steve Meakin.

Layton hit back to win the next two in a row but a solid performance from Frank Jex saw the Blackburn boys through. The two Blackburn teams will now play each other in the semi final at Blackpool’s Claremont Conservative Club on Tuesday, May 5 at 7.30pm.