World Bowls Tour opens in Perth

Nov 11 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

ENGLAND’S Kevin Carrie became only the second qualifier to earn a place in the last 16 of the Dales Sports Surfaces Scottish International Open after upsetting Ireland's 14th seed Jonathan Ross in the first round of the opening World Bowls Tour event of the new season at Dewars.

The WBT world ranking event, now in its the fifth year in Perth, features the top 16 players in the world, joined by qualifiers from the UK, Australia, South Africa, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel and New Zealand.

Ross, an experienced Irish international from Belfast, led 3-1 in the opening set. But the momentum then moved to WBT debutant Carrie who held a two-shot lead going into the final end before Ross scored a double and tied the set.

The lead changed three times in the second set before the 24-year-old underdog from St Leonard’s-on-Sea in Sussex scored a 'full house' four shots in the fifth end – and thereafter romped to an 8-8, 11-5 victory and a place in the second round.

“The plan was to come to this tournament and try to do well – but use it as a springboard for next time by gaining useful experience,” said Carrie later.

“It's beyond my wildest dreams to have got through the first round, so now I have to see if I can get further.

“When I tied the first set against Jonathan, I felt, okay, I'm matching him, and could go on to win this.

“Then, when he gifted me a full house in the second set – when he took his own bowl out of the head – all I had to do was to keep my head – though it was difficult to do, because I was so excited!

“I play Greg (Harlow) next and, although I haven't played him, I know him quite well, because we both play in the EBPA championships (English Bowls Players Association), and we are good friends,” concluded Carrie.

Harlow, the third seed from Ely in Cambridgeshire, eased into the second round after beating fellow Englishman Scott Dunham, a qualifier from Lincolnshire, 9-5, 11-3.

John Price became one of three Welshmen to earn places in the second round after beating Englishman Simon Green 6-6, 9-7.

The veteran WBT stalwart from Port Talbot was making a surprise appearance in the event as a seed after dropping out of the top 16 this season – but then benefiting from the withdrawal of Australia's Mark McMahon, the world No14.

And at 7-2 to Green after six ends of the second set, it looked as if Price was going to be unable to exploit his advantage.

But a single, then a full house, sensationally brought the former world champion back into the game – and a double in the final end clinched Price's unexpected win.

The Welshman agreed that it was a game of two halves.

He said: “I played really well in the first set - and should have won it – but the wheels came off in the second set.

“I played a load of rubbish and deserved to be four shots down with two ends to play.

“Then came that four – out of the blue! You couldn't really see it coming.

“Although I played four good bowls, he had a chance to hit it with his third bowl – and I certainly think he should have fired with his last.

“If he had only taken one out, that would have made a big difference – but, as it happened, the momentum was all behind me as we went into the last end.”

First round results so far: [15] Simon Skelton (ENG) bt [Q] Glenn Skipp (ENG) 10-4, 10-1; [Q] Kevin Carrie (ENG) bt [14] Jonathan Ross (NIR) 8-8, 11-5; [3] Greg Harlow (ENG) bt [Q] Scott Dunham (ENG) 9-5, 11-3; [11] Kelvin Kerkow (AUS) bt [Q] CY Wong (HKG) 14-2, 7-8, 2-0; [16] John Price (WAL) bt [Q] Simon Green (ENG) 6-6, 9-7; [5] Jason Greenslade (WAL) bt [Q] Aron Sherriff (AUS) 8-3, 9-3.

For ticket details, contact Dewars on 01738-624188 (option 3) or log on to www.worldbowlstour.com