In the last of the quarter finals it was Norfolk’s Mervyn King going head to head with Devonian Robert Paxton for the last place in the ‘Just’ 2018 World Indoor Open Singles Championship. Both players are exponents of the draw shot and the crowd were not disappointed in the quality of the bowls. In 18 ends only 20 shots were actually scored. There were only two 2’s scored and all the rest were singles, this demonstrates the closeness of the bowls!!
It was King that opened up the scoring with three singles before Paxton made off with one of the two doubles in the match. By the completion of end seven it was 4 all with both players then getting a single apiece for a set draw at 5 all. It was the second set where King had one unfortunate end where, holding a very tight single, his draw bowl just clipped the side of Paxtons and it was one down by the smallest of margins. King was 2,5 down going into the seventh end and he collected a single, and again in end eight to close within one shot of Paxton. It did look as if King may collect at least a double or even a treble to take the second set and match but it was a final drive from Paxton that was dead on target and it was Paxton that collected another single for the set and match 4,6.