Fo ster and Anderso n blaze Sco ttish trail into semi-finals

PAUL FOSTER and Stewart Anderson will carry Scottish hopes in today’s semifinals of the Just World Indoor Bowls singles at Potters, with England’s Les Gillett and Greg Harlow providing their opposition.

The day didn’t start well for the Scots with David Gourlay being counted out in the first of the quarter finals on the last end and with the last bowl of a tie break by an unbelievable fluke result that went in Greg Harlow’s favour.

Gourlay dominated the first set winning 8-5 and was still in the equation for a straights sets victory in the second at just 6-4 down with two ends remaining, but it was Harlow who grabbed the initiative with successive doubles to win 10-4 and force a tie break which the Englishman won with an outrageous fluke with his last bowl on the last end 2-1.

“That was an outrageous fluke,” admitted Harlow later. “I was fortunate the way the head fell. The gods were smiling on me.”

A gutted Gourlay shook his head and said “To lose like that is sore, I don’t think I’ll forget that result in a hurry. That’s three games I’ve lost in these Championships on the last end of a tie break”.

Scotland’s luck did get better with 2013 champion Stewart Anderson from Blantyre turning in a blistering exhibition of inch-perfect bowls to cuff defending champion and world No.1 Nicky Brett 10-5, 10-2, sealing the result with two ends remaining in the second set.

“I knew I would have to play well to beat Nicky. We all know what he’s capable of. I played a solid game and felt I played as well as I did the year I won the title, so hopefully I’ve got more left in the tank.”

Four-time holder Paul Foster dug deep to deny No.14 seed Jamie Chestney, hitting back after a mediocre opening set and then going all the way in the tie break to progress 6-10, 10-4, 2-1.

“I wasn’t entirely happy with my performance. I struggled coming towards the commentary box in the first set and couldn’t get my weight,” said Foster.

In the last match of the day 2014 champion Darren Burnett failed to boost the Scottish challenge as he bowed out after an 8-4, 8-4 defeat to Melton Mowbray’s Les Gillett who who will be the only player in the semi-finals who hasn’t won this title.

“The match never flowed. There was too much stopping, starting and waiting in it and no fluency,” said Burnett.