King defeats defending champion Harlow

The recent “King” of the Co-op Funeralcare Scottish International Open at the Dewars Centre in Perth, World No 1 Greg Harlow, met his match today in his good friend Melvyn King, writes Janice Gower.
King, who had impressed in his first game back on the first day of the tournament, played immaculate bowls which left Harlow playing difficult runners to stay in the game.

And the World No 1’s normal, go to, forehand runner escaped him and in dramatic form Harlow left the competition.
“You know you’re always facing a tough game with Greg. But I was happy with the way I have been playing and then its all about keeping focus and keeping going,” said a delighted King. King took the game in straight sets 9-5, 8-6.

Next game of the afternoon and Scottish International, and now favourite for the tournament, Paul Foster MBE faced a tough challenge in Englishman Mark Dawes.

Foster was at his best throughout the encounter, “You know if you don’t put your first bowl close your in trouble with Paul,” said Dawes after the game.

The game was played to a enthralled crowd and even included a very rarely seen split jack from a firing shot from Foster.

“I have never done that before or seen that happen before at a WBT event,” said Foster with a smile. “My form is good at the moment and I just hope I can keep it going for the rest of the season.”

Foster took the game 10-3, 9-4 and moved safely into the quarter finals.

The final game of the day saw two of the “seed” beaters from the first round battle it out for a quarterfinal place. Perry Martin verses Michael Stepney. England v Scotland. Stepney was on fire and took the first set comfortably.

The second set saw the Co-op Funeralcare Wild Card, Stepney, up the pace again and take a 5-0 lead after three ends. Martin fought back with two shots at the next end, and was holding three shots at end five only to see Stepney draw in to pick up another one and the score line stood at 6-2.

With another two shots at end six the writing was on the wall for the England International Martin and Stepney finished the game off 8-3, 9-3 and took his place in the quarterfinals on Thursday where he will face Mervyn King.

Jamie Chestney and Andy Thomson MBE were the first into battle in the morning game. It was Chestney who came out the victor in a match which saw the current International Open Champion get ultimate results to his timed runners backed up with superb draw play.

Chestney moves into the quarter finals with a 8-6, 9-3 finishing score.

Games tomorrow:
10.15am Danny Denison v Nick Brett. 1pm Alex Marshall MBE v Les Gillett, Darren Burnett v Robert Paxton and David Gourlay v Mark Royal.