Emotional Nick Brett takes first world singles title

NICK Brett is the new Just Retirement Professional World Indoor Open Singles champion after a crowd-pleasing final match at Potters this afternoon.

The world number one proved why he has climbed up the ranking list over the past couple of years following wins in the Scottish International Open in 2013 and 2014 and the International Open in 2015.

A count of three for Nick on the sixth end of the first set moved him into a 6-3 lead.

And the Huntingdon player punished Rob further by drawing to an off centred jack, but Rob was able to take out the bowl for a double.

A double for Robert on the eighth saw him moved back into the lead, 7-6.

With the scored seven a piece going into the penultimate end of the first set, Robert trailed the jack slightly for a count of two and a cushion going into the final end.

Two down and playing his last bowl, Robert drives to remove one shot but Nicky draws another to tie the first set, 9-9.

Three short bowls in the first end of the second set from Robert saw Nick capitalise by drawing four shots for a maximum count.

Nick continued to pile on the pressure and with a 7-2 lead on the fourth end of the second set, Robert’s drive when two down stunned the bowls leaving him in a worse position.

His final bowl was also a drive which took out one of Nick’s bowls.

At 9-4 down on end six, Robert picked up a single shot to put him four shots adrift with five ends to play.

But a double on the sixth end put Nick 11-5 ahead and gave him a cushion until he finally carved out a 12-9 win in the second set to take the match.

When asked afterwards how it felt to be a world champion, Nick said: “Pretty bloody good.”

He thanked his friends and family for their tremendous support throughout the event and particularly in the final, including his late father.

“I can’t remember too much of the game,” he said, “But we both played some good bowls in the first set, scrapped about a bit and both played some take out bowls in the second set.

“It really has been an incredible week for me.”

Rob said: “Nick played well, the first set was a big turner, he really played well.

“When I played my last bowl on the last end of the first set I thought I had both bowls and Nick played a good bowl to get a two.

“In the second he was stamped on it from the start.

“I did well to hold it and take it into a last end but unfortunately I did not quite have enough today to get over the line.

“I am disappointed but it’s nice to get into the final after losing the previous three semis. It’s just the next stage for me now.

“Nick has been going from strength to strength and everything has been going his way. He thoroughly deserves it.

“The amount I will take from beating Alex yesterday is huge and also today, the amount of players that would have folded at being 9-2 down, but I kept grinding it out because I wanted Nick to win it rather than me win it.”