Burnett wins two of three

Arbroath’s Darren Burnett, hoping to add the World Bowls men’s singles title to the Commonwealth Games crown he won two years ago, made an inauspicious start to his bid at the Fendalton club in Christchurch, New Zealand.

In his opening round-robin group match, Burnett was outplayed by the man he beat in the games final. Canadian Ryan Bester, who lives and plays bowls professionally in Australia, stormed to a 21-8 victory in just 18 ends.

Burnett bounced back to record a 21-5 win over Macao’s Johnny Ng, before getting the better of Derbyshireborn Peter Bonsor, who is representing Spain, 21-17.

Also in his group are Australia’s Aron Sherriff, who is one of the favourites for the title, Japan’s Kenta Hasebe, who plays his bowls in Australia, and talented Channel Islanders Todd Priaulx (Guernsey) and Malcolm De Sousa (Jersey).

Today, Burnett will face Sherriff, Hasebe and De Sousa.

Scotland’s Ronnie Duncan, Ian McLean, Paul Foster and Alex Marshall beat Brunei, 18-9, Canada, 22-9, and Hong Kong 16-15.

In the women’s pairs, Strathmiglo’s Lesley Doig and Lauren Baillie from Cockenzie and Portstewart beat Ireland, 17-8, China, 18-11, and Cook Islands 25-14.

But the hotly tipped Scottish four skipped by Auchinleck’s Claire Johnston, who opened with a 17-13 win over USA, slipped up against Wales and Canada, losing 15-12 and 15-14 respectively.