No dream final shot as Gourlay is vanquished
David Gourlay failed in his quest to reach his first World Indoor Singles final since 1999, after he was beaten comprehensively in straight sets by Greg Harlow in yesterday’s semi-final at Potters.
A day after the tournament was rocked when surprise quarter-finalists Wayne Willgress and Perry Martin tested positive for coronavirus and had to be withdrawn, giving Mark Dawes a route straight into the final, there was a subdued feeling in the air and this translated itself down to the portable blue rink.
Neither man brought his A-game to the proceedings and after an even start, Harlow forged ahead to win the first set by four and always held sway in the second, as Spanish-based Gourlay struggled to land a glove on the 52-year-old, whose office – he is the Potters Ambassador – overlooks the International Arena.
Harlow raced into a five-shot lead after five ends and had little difficulty securing the set and eventual victory as Gourlay offered up his English opponent too many opportunities.
“Greg thoroughly deserved the win,” admitted a forlorn Gourlay.
“Any time I did look like getting a couple, he’d put a good bowl in and nail it down. We were both struggling for our weight, but we did have flashes of good ends and bad ends, but Greg had more good ones than me.”
On the tournament itself, which was run behind closed doors this year with strict Covid-19 protocols in place, he added: “It’s been weird, but a great privilege. We’re honoured to have been given the chance to take part and for this event to be run. Personally I have felt very safe and really secure here. Mixed emotions for me.”
It’s been four years since Harlow last graced the final, when he was well beaten by Paul Foster, and will now tackle Lancashire bowler Dawes this afternoon in the showpiece.
“I am absolutely delighted to be in the final,” he said. “As David said, it’s bizarre at the end of the game, shots tend to get shouted and cheered in, you’re getting your adrenaline really pumped and then you finish the game and it’s like ‘okay, we’re done’.
“I thought I drew pretty well and overall I was quite happy. I’m not sure I have ever played Mark on the WBT, so it will be a first for me.”