A FIRST-TIME pairing could be the one to beat in this year’s Chris Gryllis Real Estate Golden Eagle Pairs Classic.

Molong’s Bob Hamilton and Blayney’s George Ford will contest the semi-finals of the annual event today after a solid quarter-final victory yesterday.

The duo, who are bowling together for the first time, had four wins and a loss in their sectional matches and went through to the semi-finals on a countback.

In yesterday’s quarter-final they defeated the previously unbeaten John Adams of Blayney and Newstead’s Garry Death 22-13.

“There was nothing in it until the 14th or 15th (end) and then we got away,” Hamilton explained.

“A few things didn’t go their way.”

Adams was disappointed he and Death couldn’t get the win but is confident they have lost to this year’s Golden Eagle winners.

“I reckon they can win it,” Adams said.

In this morning’s semi-final Hamilton and Ford will take on Nick Darius (Wentworth Falls) and Kevin Fitzpatrick (Lithgow).

Darius and Fitzpatrick edged out Orange’s Steve Carr and Picton’s Graham Irons 23-19 in their quarter-final yesterday, which went down to the final end.

Hamilton and Ford have not bowled together but their years of experience, an estimated combined total of 65 years’ bowling, make them a tough pair to beat.

“It’s so easy to play with (Ford) because he’s such a good bowler,” Hamilton said.

“He’s the best bowler I’ve played with.”

Dubbo’s Max Low and Keith Hardwick have earned a place in the semi-finals after downing North Sydney’s Gerard Kebourian and Tony Taylor 25-14 in the quarter-final.

Low and Hardwick will have to take on a determined Bruce Hawkins and John Mobbs of Gulgong in today’s other semi-final.

Hawkins and Mobbs were forced to play an extra end in their semi-final after being tied at 22-all with the Central Coast’s Jeff Wade and Lindsay Willding. The Gulgong pair went on to win 23-22.

Today’s semi-finals will start at 8.45am and the two winners will square off in the final at 1pm.

QUARTER-final results:

Max Low and Keith Hardwick def Gerard Kebourian and Tony Taylor 25-14, Bruce Hawkins and John Mobbs def Jeff Wade and Lindsay Willding 23-22, Bob Hamilton and George Ford def John Adams and Garry Death 22-13, Nick Darius and Kevin Fitzpatrick def Steve Carr and Graham Irons 23-19.

n SEMI-finals today at 8.45am: Max Low and Keith Hardwick v Bruce Hawkins and John Mobbs, Bob Hamilton and George Ford v Nick Darius and Kevin Fitzpatrick.