Foster makes up for singles shocker with pairs title win

Scots took the first bowls title of the World Indoor Championship at Potters Leisure Resort but it was a bittersweet result for Paul Foster.

Foster who went into these championships as the holder of the singles and pairs titles had already made it through to the pairs final, but after an 11-day wait was just getting his singles campaign under way yesterday.

His day began with the singles but much to everyone’s surprise the four-time holder crashed out 9-9, 7-5 to 18-year-old Welsh student Ross Owen.

A deeply disappointed Foster admitted later: “I started off well enough in the first set and then I went walkabout.

“I did get back in the game but Ross played some massive bowls to win it. He took his chances so good luck to him.”

His disappointment was short lived, however, as there was something to celebrate. On returning to the portable rink just an hour after after that defeat to team up with best friend Alex Marshall against Welsh pair Jason Greenslade and Rob Weale in the pairs title decider, the Scots signed off with a straight-sets victory to retain the title 7-6, 11-1 and leave the Welsh duo as the runners-up for the third time.

In the last game of the day, No.8 seed David Gourlay won the all-Scottish clash with former Irish International Jonathan Ross who now lives in Paisley. He is the first player to book a quarter-final berth after his 9-3, 7-5 victory.