First match of the day here in the second round of the World Indoor Open Singles saw ex Top 16 player who had qualified again through the Professional Bowls Association qualifiers earlier this year, Simon Skelton, face up against the Welsh player, Jason Greenslade. Greenslade needed this match as he is on the verge of dropping out of the top 16 and needs all the points he can muster in this season.
Neither player got off to a great start in the first set with many loose and unexpected bowls and the match started with both players playing the odd really good bowl. All square on end three at 3,3 it was Skelton that seemed to find it a little better and it was he that pulled away very slightly over the next five ends to go 6,4 in the lead. Greenslade had to really dig deep to find a good bowl in end seven to pick up a single and it was Greenslade again in end nine that left it late but just managed to pip Skelton to the post taking another single to finish the set at 6,6.
Second set and the story was much the same, neither player really dominating the other, both players finding good bowls at odd times and by end seven it was a low 4,4. Greenslade got the edge on Skelton in end eight to take a single to go one up at 4,5. The final end and neither player seemed to be able to get to grips with it, bowls were very loose with plenty of area around the jack. Skelton held a single and had two bowls left, Greenslade tried to draw but just rolled through, Skelton fell short, one bowl left each and again Greenslade just overplayed and drifted just past the jack – Skelton had last bowl, sent it wide to get around the front bowls and it very gradually swung in – Skelton held shot but it had to be an Umpires measure and it went to Skelton for second shot, set and match. 6,5