Bowls: Gourlay keeps Scots’ hopes high

Hopes of a Scottish title win in the Mixed Pairs World Matchplay Championship at Potters Leisure Resort look healthy with twice former champion David Gourlay in sizzling form.

Along with English partner Debbie Stavrou, they played some telling shots in their 7-9, 8-6, 2-0 victory over the all-English pairing of Amy Stanton and Greg Harlow. The all-Scottish partnership of Julie Forrest and Darren Burnett also showed some hot form, accounting for the local East Anglian duo of Rebecca Field and Mark Royal 11-5, 6-5.

For Alex Marshall, though, there was disappointment. Along with Janice Gower, Marshall gave the shot away on three occasions in the first set and played a perfect delivery with the last bowl of the match only to watch it spring out of the rink and for his opposition - defending champion Alison Merrien from Guernsey and Nottingham’s Simon Skelton - to take the count on the respot to win through 7-6, 7-8, 2-0.

Paul Foster boosted Scotland’s chances to three which means that their will be at least on Scot in Tuesday’s final. In the last quarter-final of the day, along with partner Kerry Packwood from Wales, they beat defending champions Karen Murphy and Mervyn King 5-11, 9-5, 2-1.