First match of the day was between Les Gillett and Simon Skelton, both players needing the win – Skelton to remain in the top 16 and Gillett who needed the win to get into the top 16 – and what a match it was. What we were treated to was a superb game with both players only missing the odd shot. In the first set both players were playing top of form bowls and it was nip and tuck all the way through to finish 10-8 in Gilletts favour. Second set it was similar but with Skelton drawing away from Gillett it looked as if we were in for a tie break, on the last end it was 7-4 up to Skelton with Gillett having last bowl and needing a trail for three on an extremely difficult line – Gillett played it to perfection and took the treble to make the set 7-7 and take the match 10,8 – 7,7 and seal his place into next season’s top 16. This also means that Simon Skelton has dropped out of the top 16 and faces the realms of having to start all over again in qualifiers within the PBA, Skelton has vowed that he will return very shortly.
World Bowls Tour