Last match of the afternoon was a first round singles match between the Reigning Champion, Paul Foster MBE, and Professional Bowls Association qualifier from Bromley, Lea Blackham.
Blackham came out the blocks hard and fast and played superb bowls against Foster. It was not the usual Foster as he struggled to get started and Blackham was on top of his game. At 5 ends Foster was 2,5 down and clearly uncomfortable on the rink but it was Blackham that continued to produce the goods as he took end after end against the defending champion and by the eighth end it was all over for the first set as it went to Blackham 2,8.
In the second set Foster had regrouped and found his focus. Taking a full house of four in the first end from Blackham Foster was sent reeling after Blackham took a swift triple and a single in the next two ends to level the score. Again Foster refocused and this time it was Blackham on the receiving end of the Champion as Foster did not let him score again and the set went 12,4 to Foster to force the much needed tie break. Foster won the tie break 2 ends to 1 and goes through to the second round.