Day 3 here at Blackpool Newton Hall in the Co-op Funeralcare International Open and it was the turn of Scotland’s Darren Burnett to face off with England International Perry Martin. It was a confident Martin that opened up proceedings to go 5 shots ahead by end 3 in the first set and it looked as if Burnett was struggling with his delivery to start with. Burnett then managed to grab a double in end four and followed that up with two singles to get the score to 4-5 by the completion of end six. Martin picked of a very neat double in end seven and put the pressure back onto Burnett. What pressure Burnett seemed to say as he took a great count of three of Martin and followed that up with a single in the final end to take the first set 8,7.
Into set 2 and it was a much better and happier Burnett that seemed to relax into the match. Being one down in end two Burnett grabbed a great triple count but it was Martin that dug deep to take two singles over the next two ends to level the score to 3 all. It was Burnett’s turn then to apply the pressure as he denied Martin over the next three ends taking a total of five shots of the England International. Martin was playing well but it was Burnett that played and held onto the big shots, several instances Martin’s shots just missed target by mere millimetres and he found himself 8-3 down going into the 8th end. Despite everything all Martin could get from a defiant Burnett was a single so Burnett takes the second set 8-4 to go into the second round where he faces Robert Paxton