Top form Harlow romps to title

Nov 18 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

ENGLAND’S Greg Harlow was in commanding form in Saturday’s final of the Dales Sports Surfaces Scottish International Open when he beat surprise Welsh opponent John Price in straight sets in the climax of the World Bowls Tour event at Dewars in Perth to win the title for the first time.

“I wish every event was the first of the season – that's the fourth I've won in the last five seasons,” said the jubilant Harlow after his 11-6, 16-1 victory.

“Perhaps I now need a long rest before the next one,” quipped the 40-year-old from Ely in Cambridgeshire.

Price, the 48-year-old former world champion from Port Talbot who provided the tournament's biggest shock by knocking out three higher-seeded opponents to reach the final, romped to a 4-0 lead in the first set.

But Harlow, ranked two in the world, fought back to take over the lead after the next two ends – and went on to win the set.

The Ely ace maintained his mighty form in the second, moving 3-0 up before Price made his mark on the scoreboard with a single in the third end.

It was Harlow's 'full-house' four shots in the fifth end that signalled Price's demise – and wins in the next three ends gave the Englishman the title with three of the 11 ends still remaining.

“I thought I started the better in the first set and went four nil up,” said Price after his first appearance in a WBT final since January, 2005.

“But when Greg went short with the jack thereafter, I struggled.”

Harlow admitted that he was never under any pressure: “I don't think I had to play any weighted shots at all – and that suggests my drawing was pretty good.

“When I got them close, I was almost always getting a front toucher or a back toucher, so my position was always good.

“To be honest, I felt sorry for John, especially after that full house in the second set that put me virtually out of reach – but you can't start giving shots away to make the score look more respectable, because you never know what might happen,” added the new champion.

“That's the full set – I had previously won Opens in England, Ireland and Wales, but that's my first in Scotland.

“Now I'd dearly love to win the world title in Potters Leisure Resort in January.”

When walking up the rink to collect his trophy and cheque for £7,000, Harlow delighted the Perth crowd – and, no doubt, the BBC TV Scotland viewers – by performing a cartwheel!

“I promised them back home that every time I win a tournament, I will produce a cartwheel on the rink for them.”

Harlow also acknowledged that he would again celebrate his title victory with a fish and chips and a champagne party at home on Sunday night.

Despite finishing as runner-up, world No17 Price, who only clinched a place in the draw for the top 16 players in the world on the withdrawal of 14th-placed Mark McMahon, was far from unhappy with the outcome.

“All in all, I'm delighted with my week. It's put me back in the reckoning and boosted my confidence.

“I wasn't displeased with the first set – it was just in that second set that the game went away from me.

“At the start of the week, if you'd said I would get to the final, I'd have settled for that.”

Final: [3] Greg Harlow (ENG) bt [16] John Price (WAL) 11-6, 16-1.

In the semi-finals, Price defeated Andy Thomson (ENG) 8-6, 5-7, 2-0 and Harlow beat Paul Foster (SCO) 7-4, 6-8, 2-1.

Dewar’s Centre

LADIES Scottish League – East Fife 99, Perth 61. Details (East Fife skips first) – A Fyall 16, M Morrison 18; L Stein 25, I West 14; C Smith 26, E McGarvie 18; J Sword 32, K Rettie 11.