Ryan Burnett’s sights on success for Scots

While big brother Darren is strutting his stuff in the Co-op Funeralcare WBT Scottish International Open in Perth, Arbroath’s Ryan Burnett is proud to be representing Scotland in the prestigious Hong Kong International Classic event, where he and Kevin Anderson launch their bid for the pairs title today.

Burnett and Anderson, who is from Dumbarton, are plying their trade as professional bowlers on Australia’s Gold Coast, where they are employed at the Broadbeach club, which is gearing up to be the lawn bowls venue for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In the singles, which is a kind of curtain-raiser for the pairs, Burnett accounted for local hope James Po 4-6, 9-2, 4-3, but was pipped by Australia’s Nathan Pedersen, who beat him 10-0, 2-7, 6-0 in a topsyturvy second-round encounter.

Anderson scorched past a succession of opponents on his way to the semi-finals, only to be dispatched in straight sets by former England champion David Bolt, who, after returning a 7-5, 9-0 scorecard, went on to win the title with an 8-6, 5-6, 3-1 final victory over Welsh champion David Kingdon.

The Scots duo were writing off their experience in the singles as part of a learning curve for the pairs, in which they will be required to play 11 gruelling rounds before next weekend’s knockout stage.

They were looking forward to facing strong teams from South Africa and Hong Kong today.

“This place is bizarre,” said Anderson.

“It’s not at all like Dumbarton!” Burnett grinned, and said, “It’s not much like Arbroath, either!”