First match of the second day in the Co-op Funeralcare International Open here at Newton Hall Holiday Park was between England’s Mervyn King and Australia’s Kurt Brown and what a match that was.
In the first set and the first few ends were a bit scrappy as both players settled in and by the 5th end it was just 3 all. Then Brown seemed to suddenly switch on as he started to really find his pace and he outplayed King to take the next three ends with a single and two doubles to take a commanding 3-7 lead. King was fishing about for his pace and managed to grab a single in end 8 but it was Brown that sealed the set by taking a double and set set at 4-9.
Into the 2nd set and it was again Brown that was high on confidence as he calmly went 1-5 up by the 4th end. Then suddenly it was if King had thrown the on switch up, he set a short jack and then swiftly settled down to his form of outstanding drawing skills as he did not let King back into the match with another shot on the card. King took the second set with an outstanding 11-5 score.
Tie break time and it was Brown from Australia that kept his nerve, he won the toss and settled for a long jack and took the first end away from King. Into the second end and King set a medium Jack and held shot til Brown played a superb draw bowl and King had last bowl - King had a choice to play, either a dead draw or a running timing bowl, King chose the draw - it was 16 inches short and Brown from Australia goes through into the 2nd Round.