Weir wins world Under 25 singles title
Scotland’s Darren Weir (pictured) at last succeeded on getting his hands on the Imagine Cruising World Under 25 Singles title at Potters (writes Anne Dunwoodie, World Bowls Tour).
Beaten in the final for the last two years by Daniel Pool, Weir worked his way through this year’s semi-final against Aussie Jack East, winning 12-5, 9-5, while Pool saw his hopes of taking the title for the third year in succession fizzle out in a great semi-final against Cambridgeshire’s Rebecca Moorbey 8-6, 2-11, 2-0.
In the title decider, Weir, a decorated player for Scotland in the varying age groups and who has gained full international credentials over the years, proved too strong for the bowls administrator for the St Neots Club, who also has an exemplary CV both indoors and outdoors.
Weir scored nine shots on consecutive ends on the back straight to win the first set 13-3 and, despite only playing nine ends in the best of two sets of 11 ends, he scored heavily, counting two fours and two trebles to win the second set 14-6 and take possession of the Langham Glass trophy.
RESULT: Darren Weir (Scot) bt Rebecca Moorbey (Eng) 13-3, 14-6.
OPEN SINGLES SEMI-FINALS
ANDERSON PUT THROUGH HIS PACES BY GOODWIN
Glasgow’s Stewart Anderson has cemented his place in his third final at the Imagine Cruising World Indoor Bowls Championships at Potters Resorts, in Norfolk after holding off a magnificent effort from Harry Goodwin and winning 9-6, 8-4.
Both men played every shot in the book with ease and precision, such was the high standard of the game with the capacity crowd enjoying every minute and showing their appreciation with loud vocal support.
They were nip and tuck throughout the first six ends of the first set, but a grandstand finish of 1, 3 and 1 over the last three left Anderson in the driving seat at 9-6.
It was a similar story in the second where they stood all square at 3-3 after five ends only for Anderson to score a treble after a relatively loose end from Goodwin and move 6-3 ahead.
Singles were scored on the run home but it was twice former champion Anderson who sealed the deal 8-4 to reach his third final of the championships.
It was a top qualify performance throughout from each player, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
Earlier in the week, Anderson and Darren Burnett won the pairs title against Jason Banks and Paul Foster MBE but alongside Ceri Ann Glen they lost the mixed pairs title to Julie Forrest and Nicky Brett.
RESULT: Stewart Anderson (Scot/2) bt Harry Goodwin (Eng) 9-6, 8-4.
MARSHALL ROLLS BACK THE YEARS WITH A VINTAGE DISPLAY
Alex Marshall MBE rolled back the years with a vintage display to move through to the Imagine Cruising World Indoor singles final against Stewart Anderson in an all-Scottish head-to-head today Sunday 21st January at 2.30pm)
It was an enthralling and pulsating, cut and thrust game from both players with Marshall showing just why he holds the record of winning this title six times – all won at Potters and his great friend Paul Foster MBE – the current world number one on the WBT Ranking List – who won his first title of five at the Preston Guild Hall in 1998.
They tied at 6-6 on the penultimate end of the opening set with the advantage swinging one way and then the other before Foster counted that vital set winner.
The East Lothian man though held the upper hand from the opening exchanges in the second set, going 6-0 ahead after two ends and although Marshall eventually won the set 10-5 to force a tiebreak there were so many defining moments throughout the set that kept the spectators glued to the action.
The tiebreak ends were on another level, but it was 57 year old Marshall who emerged as the winner 6-7, 10-5, 2-0, to keep his dream of a seventh world singles title in his sights.
The final should be a cracker … don’t miss it!!
RESULT: Alex Marshallย MBE (Scot) bt Paul Foster MBE (Scot/2) 6-7, 10-5, 2-0.
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