The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Angus bowler’s world indoor title challenge off and running
2014 champion makes confident start to campaign
Arbroath’s Darren Burnett, ninth seed in the Just World Indoor Singles Championship, yesterday made a confident start to his bid to regain the title he won in 2014.
It fell to Burnett, a community police officer, to get the ball rolling, quite literally, as he faced a feisty challenge from Graham McKee in the very first match of the singles event at Potters Resort in Norfolk – but he was up to the challenge and defeated the Irish PBA qualifier, 9-9, 7-5.
“I was expecting a hard game, because Graham is one of the best players around, and has experienced the pressures of the portable rink before,” said the reigning Commonwealth Games men’s singles champion.
“As soon as the draw came out, I knew I would have to find my best form, but it was a great way to start my campaign.”
The opening end of the best of two sets encounter gave a glimpse of what was to come.
After all eight bowls had been delivered, two bowls – one red belonging to Burnett, one green for the Irish challenger – were actually touching the jack, and a rare tied-end was declared. The score was 0-0 after one end.
Burnett, who won only three of the nine ends in the first set, scored heavily, collecting a four, a double and a treble to lead, 9-7, with one end still to play. And it turned out to be a cracker.
Two bowls drawn to the jack with pinpoint accuracy by McKee were dispatched unceremoniously by Burnett, who blasted them off the rink to hold two shots, but McKee promptly ditched the jack with a bullseye drive of his own to score a double that tied the set at 9-9.
“My last bowl on that last end was disappointingly short, and I couldn’t believe that Graham failed to add a third shot with his last bowl,” Burnett recalled.
“So, all-in-all, I was kind of happy to settle for a tied set, with everything to play for in the second set.”
“I was certainly very relieved, and I approached the second set with confidence,” added Burnett.
“Graham was playing so well that I never felt safe, but I managed to build up a 7-3 lead, and was happy to drop singles on the last two ends.”
Burnett, who has had some trouble with his right hand, and is therefore lacking in match practice, reports that he is now on the mend and feeling fit.
“I feel I’m playing well, and enjoying it out there,” he revealed.
“Everything’s going well – I’m drawing well, and was very happy with my heavy bowls today. Most of my drives were on target, and that hard game was just what I needed, and has boosted my confidence levels.”
The Arbroath star’s next singles game is scheduled for next Tuesday, when he will face the winner of today’s match between Devon’s world number eight Jamie Chestney and England PBA qualifier Chris Gale, from Blackpool.