Doig and Duncan on course at World Cup

Scotland’s representatives in the Bowls World Cup at the Warilla indoor club in New South Wales, Lesley Doig and Ronnie Duncan, look certain to make it through to the knockout stages.

Doig, from Strathmiglo, lost 10-6 10-3 to Jo Edwards.

But, with six wins in seven games, Doig is on course to clinch a place in the knockout frame and is level with Edwards and Malaysia’s Nor Hashimah Ismail at the top of the section league.

Duncan, from Bonnyriggs, beat Papua New Guinea’s Gariga Babona 13-4 12-4, Spain’s Tom Rogers 19-1 9-6, and Japan’s Australia-based Kenichi Emura 8-8 7-6.

The event was cast under a cloud when Namibia’s teenage sensation Cabous Olivier had to return home after the tragic death of his mother.

Meanwhile, taking on Wales in the men’s home international series in Belfast yesterday, Scotland won 123-88, so that today’s clash with England, who are also unbeaten, will prove decisive.

Arbroath’s Andy Furye, who made his international debut on Thursday, lined up again at Stewart Anderson’s shoulder, with Greg McLoughlin and Mark O’Hagan forming a solid front end and providing a useful platform.

They came good in the second half, taking the lead for the first time on the 20th end, and pipping a Welsh rink skipped by David Harding 22-16.

Scotland won on five of the six rinks, the most telling cards being returned by rinks skipped by Derek Oliver, Paul Foster and Iain McLean, who won by 14, eight and seven shots respectively.

England have a superior shots difference for this afternoon’s showdown, with +82 compared with Scotland’s +46, but that will not carry any weight unless it’s a tie after 21 ends.

Picture: SNS. Rolling on: Paul Foster.