Bowls: Paul Foster wins pairs consolation

SCOTLAND’S Paul Foster saw his hopes of retaining his world singles crown kicked into touch in the first round at Potters Leisure Resort yesterday morning, but then emerged grinning from ear to ear at the end of the afternoon after successfully defending his World Pairs title with best friend Alex Marshall.

With five-time singles winner Marshall pipped in his first singles match by Springbok qualifier Craig Rimmington, the door was open for Foster to equal that record but he was bundled out 9-9, 7-5 by 18-year-old Welsh debutant Ross Owen, from the Cynon Valley club.

The Troon man dropped a full house followed by a treble on the second and third end of the first set to drop 7-3 behind and although he battled back into contention, it was the Welsh student who grabbed the vital single on the last to share the set at 9-9. In the second, Owen once again grabbed a timely treble to take a 5-4 six-end lead and then scored on two of the last three ends to cause the biggest upset of the event.

Foster said he “went walkabout” after starting reasonably well. He added: “I did get back in the game but Ross played some massive bowls to win it. I feel as though I only played two good ends in the whole of the match.”

But disappointment turned to joy as he and Marshall retained the world pairs title, relegating Jason Greenslade and Robert Weale to the runners up slot for the third time. The first set was closely contested, with a single on the last end giving the Scots the edge 7-6, but it was one way traffic in the second as they romped home 11-1 in just seven of the nine-end set.

Foster will be back in action today chasing his second title of the Championships with Mixed Pairs partner Kerry Packwood, from Wales. They go head to head against fellow Scot David Gourlay and Debbie Stavrou, from Maidenhead.