WORLD BOWLS QUALIFIERS
PAIRS
Part 2 of the World Bowls qualifiers - pairs - saw an entry of just under 100 pair with games being played on a round robin basis. Unlike the singles the previous week, we saw many of the more fancied pairs falling by the wayside - at least 8 who would have been fancied to get beyond the first round. In many ways this is good for the game as it shows that the more fancied cannot dominate all facets of the game. However when it came to the last 8, it saw the more fancied dominating with only one potential surprise pair and as events turned out it was that pair of Kevin McNamee and Declan McCann who came out tops. In the quarter finals, Andy Rankin defeated Andy Rankin 8 - 7, Gary McNabb lost 8 - 7 to Kevin McNamee, James Rutledge beat Karl Bradshaw 12 - 8 while Raymond Stubbs defeated Paul Duff 8 - 7
The semi finals saw wins by McNamee 7 - 4 over Rankin and Rutledge an 8 - 7 winner over Stubbs. It was an excellent final with 2 dead ends and going to the last end with McNamee winning 8 - 5.
The triples and rinks will be played after the British Isles championships.
Singles
Alan Paul Claims Singles Slot For World Bowls
The inaugural world bowls qualifying singles saw Alan Paul claims the spot in next year’s world championships in Aberdeen. In what was a highly competitive day’s bowling, which saw many of the fancied players fall early by the wayside, with a final worthy of the competition. Both Alan and the runner up, Robbie Foster played high quality bowls. Alan went into an early 5vshot lead but Robbie came back strongly. Both players would have been excellent ambassadors next year and no doubt with all his experience Alan is capable to bringing the title back home.
The only downside of the day were those players who did not appear and did not let the competition Secretary know in advance. This held up the start of play as some groups had to be restructured and there were 4 groups with only 2 players. To not appear and let anyone know was not only unfair to the organisers and the other players but at the end of the day it was a successful day and produced two excellent finalists
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