The host club did have one of the five sides involved but the trio of Kim Greentree, Craig O’Toole and Terry Johnson were knocked out in their first game, beaten by Armidale Services in the first round.

Inverell East, Wee Waa and Lightning Ridge had also won through from their respective districts but it was Lightning Ridge’s trio that won out.

Ray Brown, Adam Brown and Dave Webb did it in marvellous fashion too, coming back from a massive deficit to beat Wee Waa 26/25 in a thriller.

The Lightning Ridge triples now head to Ettalong as Zone 3’s representative in the State Playoffs on October 17/18.

This weekend, Inverell RSM Bowling Club hosts the Zone 3 State Fours which includes the South Tamworth quartet of Scott Thorning, Nick Golledge, Stuart Bayliss and Paul Whitton.

On Saturday, West Tamworth Bowling and Sports Club holds Mick Morris’s inaugural president’s day  and Werris Creek Bowling and Tennis Club stages its annual Open Triples on Sunday.

Entries are still open for the CNDBA Bowler of the Year event.

South Tamworth’s CNDBA Bowler of the Year event, its Major/Minor Pairs, was won by J Orman and N Golledge on the weekend. They were the only six-game winners.