Foster and Burnett battle through to second round

THE Scottish interest in the Just World Indoor Singles championship was boosted to five yesterday from the opening 12 matches, with former champions Paul Foster and Darren Burnett joining David Gourlay, Stewart Anderson and Charlie Bence in next week’s second round.

No.6 seed Foster played well but was made to work for his 9-4, 8-6 win by 27-year-old primary school teacher Michael Cheesman from Bromley, who also a qualifier in the Pairs Championship.

The Scot made the early running in both sets, with the Englishman staging late rallies. With two shots against him playing the last, he ditched the jack with his second bowl and drew the match winner with his third.

“I was happy with the way I played. It didn’t matter what length the jack was, I always in the area,” said Foster.

Last night, 2014 champion Darren Burnett, ranked seven, had too much in his armoury in the first set for 56-year-old Perth-based Australian business development manager Paul Butler, winning 12-0 with two ends in hand.

However, Butler’s nerves settled in the second and he finished just 6-5 off the pace. Burnett held off the challenge and wrapped up his straight-sets victory and a double and treble with an end to spare and win 11-5.

“I put together some great heads but I’ll need to get some antibiotics to clear this up because I just feel dreadful,” said Burnett.

Earlier, Exonia’s Jamie Chestney ended the dream of 27-year-old Scottish qualifier Paul Hay from Stonehaven 15-1, 12-3, with Hay admitting: “I just didn’t get going and that was the most disappointing factor..

One of only three women who qualified was New Zealand’s Debbie Wilford.

She caused a major upset defeating world No.10 Mark Royal from Suffolk in their opening round match, bringing the total of fallen seeds to five from the 12 matches played to date.

The 55-year-old, former Norfolk Island star, who now flies the flag for the Paritutu Club in New Plymouth, sent WBT seed Royal packing, winning 10-4, 7-7.