RECORD SIXTH LADIES WORLD MATCHPLAY SINGLES TITLE FOR REDNALL
Norfolk’s Katherine Rednall extended her title winning run in the Imagine Cruising Ladies World Matchplay Singles – retaining the title and chalking upย her success for an amazing six times in ten years (writes Anne Dunwoodie, World Bowls Tour).
In one of the best finals for a number of years, she played against newly crowned World Mixed Pairs Champion Julie Forrest from Teviotdale in the Borders region of Scotland, who has two titles under her belt in this event with the Scot making the running with a steady consistency in the opening set and won 9-5.
But as is her ‘never-say-die’ trademark, Rednall found a way back, hitting her straps from the seventh end of the second – best of 11 end set – with a double to move ahead 6-5 and then she added a 1, 4 and 1 to win 12-5 and force a tie break.
On the first end, Rednall played a short 23 metre length and after some jack movement, lay beside the jack on the right hand respot but Forrest played a perfect runner, cracking the jack to the ditch to take the shot.
Rednall counted in a tightly fought second end, and then wrapped up the title 2-1, with Forrest’s last bowl marginally going on the tight side of the head.
On her way to the title, she beat Annie Dunham 11-5, 6-6 and then Nicole Rogers 7-4, 4-8, 2-0.
The record books show that she became the youngest ever winner when she celebrated her first success ten years ago at the age of 18 against local player Rebecca Field (now Willgress), has won the title back-to-back twice and now in an event that was first started in 1988 – she joins Carol Ashby as a three-in-a-row winner and alongside Ellen Falkner MBE as the only players with three wins to their name.
RESULT:ย *Holder Katherine Rednall (Eng) bt Julie Forrest (Scot) 5-9, 12-5, 2-1.
DAY 14 RECAP
ALEX MARSHALL BECOMES THE SIXTH PLAYER TO SET UP A WORLD SINGLES QUARTER-FINAL SPOT
Scotland’s Alex Marshall registered his quarter-final spot at the Imagine Cruising World Indoor Bowls Open Singles championship at Potters, but he was made to work very hard for that last eight placement, getting over the finishing line 8-3, 8-10, 2-0 against New Zealand qualifier Martin Kreft.
Marshall, who spends most of his time in Australia these days, finished with a flourish in the first set. The set was all square at 3-3 after six ends but consecutive doubles followed by a single gave Marshall the early advantage.
The Kiwi, from the Saint Clair club in Dunedin, a Corrections Officer and son of All Blacks Rugby legend Tony Kreft who sadly passed away recently, got the perfect start in the second set, racking up a full house followed by a double to take a 6-0 lead.
However Marshall rolled in a 2 and 3 to cut the deficit to 5-6.
But one again the Kiwi played a procession of consistent drawing bowls and counted singles on each of the last four ends to win the set 10-8 – square the match at one set all and force a best of three end tie break.
However after two great inch perfect tie break ends from both players – victory went to the Scot and keeps him in contention for a record extending seventh world indoor singles crown. But first of all he will need to beat former champion Les Gillet in their quarter-final match tomorrow (Friday 19th at 3pm).
RESULT: Alex Marshall MBE (Scot) bt Martin Kreft (NZ/Q) 8-3, 8-10, 2-0).
NICKY BRETT TAKES THE SEVENTH QUARTER-FINAL SLOT IN THE RACE FOR THE WORLD INDOOR SINGLES TITLE
Nicky Brett finished strongly in both sets of his second round in the 2024 Imagine Cruising World Indoor Singles Championship to pip Scottish qualifier Billy Mellors to that second last qualifying berth 6-5, 8-7.
From the seven players who have booked their spot in the quarter-final matches played to date, five English players and two Scots will be involved today (Friday 19th January).
Brett, the champion in 2016 when he beat Rob Paxton 9/9, 12/9, trailed 3-5 with two ends left to play in a low scoring first set. He scored a single to be one off the pace playing the last, but a double put some daylight between him and Mellors, with the Scottish internationalist’s last bowl agonisingly slipping through the smallest of spaces for Brett to claim the set with a double..
In the second set, the players tied at the 2-2 on the second end and again at the 4-4 at the fifth end .
Both players scored three shots each over the next three ends to tie once again at 7-7, on the penultimate end but Brett, seeded six on the WBT rankings, confirmed his last eight place with a set winning single on the last to move through 8-7.
Brett said: “Over the piece, I felt Billy played the better draw bowls, but I just hung in there and made it happen.”
RESULT: Nicky Brett (Eng/6) bt Billy Mellors (Scot/Q) 6-5, 8-7.
PAUL FOSTER MBE COMPLETES THE WORLD INDOOR SINGLES QUARTER-FINAL LINE UP
Paul Foster MBE posted a 10-7, 8-4 win in his second round match against fellow Scot Mike Stepney to take the last of the quarter-final spots in the Imagine Cruising World Indoor Bowls Singles Championship.
Stepney led over the opening six ends of the first set but a full house count of the seventh end gave Foster and 8-5 advantage. He lost a double on the penultimate end but redeemed himself with a set winning double on the last to win 10-7.
Doubles by both players on the opening two ends of the second set saw them tied at 2-2, but Foster scored singles on the next four ends, and despite Stepney responding with singles on each of the next two ends to keep him within touching distance of winning the set at 4-6 down, Foster got over the finishing line with a double to progress 8-4.
RESULT: Paul Foster MBE (Scot/2) bt Mike Stepney (Scot/15) 10-7, 8-4.
Caption: Ladies matchplay singles winner Katherine Rednall with Marc Jones, of Potters Resorts (left) and Andy Edwards, of Imagine Cruising
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