Barker and Stepney undone by nerves

NERVES got the better of Scottish qualifiers Andy Barker and Mike Stepney in their world pairs match against title holders Mervyn King and Kelvin Kerkow in the world bowls championships at Potters near Gt Yarmouth.

A slow start saw the Elgin duo trail 5-0 after just two ends of the opening set yesterday and they went on to lose 11-6. However, they found form in the second and went into a 7-0 lead after just four ends, but the defending champions staged a storming finish, reeling off eight shots over the last five ends to nudge the result and block a tie break 8-7.

"That was a close one" admitted Kerkow later. "I did my homework on the two boys and I know that they have won several national titles so I didn't underestimate them. They played really well, and, all credit to them, pushed us all the way."

History was also made on the portable rink yesterday, with 17-year-old Jarrad Breen from Tonyrefail in Mid Glamorganshire, the youngest player ever to compete in a WBT event, taking the scalp of reigning Welsh International champion Robert Chisholm from Newcastle upon Tyne.

In a hard-fought exchange, a single on the last end of the first sets squared the set at 5-5, but in the second, a double and two singles left Breen 7-3 ahead with two ends to play and he held his nerve to win 9-5.