STORMING FINISHES SEE KING AND GOURLAY INTO THE QUARTER FINALS

9 January, 2021

Local Gallow celebrity Mervyn King and Scotland’s David Gourlay MBE had to dig deep to secure a straight sets victory and book a berth in the quarter finals of the ‘Just.’ Open Pairs tomorrow (Sunday 10th) .

The popular twosome were staring down the barrel in both sets against Ireland’s Sam Barkley and Stuart Bennett but got themselves out of jail in the closing stages of both sets.

Trailing 5-3 after six ends in the opening set, they checked out with a treble, a double and single to win 9-5, and in the second they found themselves 7-5 adrift but got over the finishing line with a double and single to nip the result 8-7.

Both King and Gourlay have won this title three times each with different partners – King with Tony Allcock and twice with Aussie Kelvin Kerkow while Gourlay claimed the title the first time it was played at Potters with Alex Marshall and then won it back to back with Lincoln’s Billy Jackson.

Later Gourlay said “it was good to get on the rink and have a game. The Irish lads certainly pushed us. It was testing with just two bowls instead of the Three Bowl format we have played in previous years.

“Of course we’re delighted to move through and were happy just to get that win under out belts. That will give us more time on the rink and more matchplay to sharpen up our consistency”.

 

“JUST” World Open Pairs

First Round

Mervyn King (Eng) and David Gourlay MBE (Sco) bt Sam Barkley & Stuart Bennett (Ire) 9-5, 8-7

Report by Anne Dunwoodie (WBT Press Officer)