Paul Foster admits he 'stole it' after surviving Potters cull

WITH six of the 16 seeds making an early exit from the second-round matches at the Potters World singles, East Lothian's Paul Foster, ranked No.4, managed to stop the rot – but only just.

In his opening singles match at Hopton-on-Sea in Norfolk, the Meadowmill player only managed two single scores against Welshman Richard Morgan in the first set, and ultimately lost 8-2.

However, in the second, he managed to turn the tempo around and despite a tit-for-tat, highly-competitive exchange, a 2, 1 finish gave him the set 6-4 and it was a relieved Foster who prevailed 2-1 in the tie break.

His first words after the match were: "I stole it!"

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He added: "I wasn't very consistent in the first set because Richard was on fire.

"He was unbelievable. He nailed the jack with nearly every bowl and never gave me a look in.

"He went off a bit in the second set but I still couldn't string much together but at least there were opportunities presenting themselves which weren't there in the first set.

"I didn't play the way I can, but I've played a blinder on many occasions and lost so you've just got to take what comes to you, no matter how you play."

Prior to Foster's match, the cull on the elite top 16 seeds continued, with title holder Billy Jackson and Sunday's pairs champion Andy Thomson joining his partner Ian Bond as well as Mark Royal, Mervyn King and Simon Skelton on the sidelines after the first eight matches.

Jackson lost to Canada's Fiji-born Indian, Hirendra Bhartu on a tie-break and, after a brilliant display to win the pairs, Anglo Scot Thomson led in both sets against Exeter's Rob Paxton, but dropped a double on the last end of the first set and lost a 2, 1 and 1 over the last three of the second to bow out 7-6, 6-5.

In the last match of the day, David Gourlay survived a scrappy, all-Scottish head-to-head with qualifier Gary Hutchison from Falkirk, winning 10-6, 9-1.

Today, the remaining Scottish challengers were due to be in action with world No.1 Alex Marshall looking for title No.6.

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Tranent's Marshall, who picked up his last, record-extending championship in 2008, is usually vulnerable in the early stages and will be aware that, not only will he need to battle his opponent on the green, but blank out the cheers of the home fans when he takes on local favourite Tim Stone.

Auchinleck star Stewart Anderson will be first in action against Dunfermline-born Mark McMahon, who is seeded 15 and now resides in Brisbane, Australia.

Arbroath's Darren Burnett is due to wrap up the play this evening against No.13 seed Les Gillett.

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