Quarter-finals:
[8] Andy Thomson (ENG) bt [1] Greg Harlow (ENG) 7-6, 7-7
[5] Paul Foster (SCO) bt [4] Jason Greenslade (WAL) 11-1, 7-6
[6] Mark Royal (ENG) bt [3] David Gourlay (AUS) 6-8, 9-3, 2-0
[2] Alex Marshall (SCO) bt [7] Mervyn King (ENG) 0-10, 10-9, 2-1
Thomson Takes Out Title-Holder Harlow At Ponds Forge
Defending champion Greg Harlow, the world No2 from Cambridgeshire, crashed out of the Co-operative Funeralcare World Matchplay Championship today (Thursday) in Sheffield, beaten by fellow Englishman Andy Thomson in the opening match in the World Bowls Tour event at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre.
With four WBT titles to his credit in Sheffield, Harlow was favourite to reclaim the title he won in the inaugural event last year. But, after celebrating his wedding last Saturday and his 40th birthday the following day, the Ely ace admitted that his pre-event practice had suffered.
After the lead changed four times in the first set, eighth seed Thomson sneaked it by a single shot - then looked set for victory, leading 6-4 in the penultimate end of the second set and holding three shots.
Harlow, however, delivered a formidable bowl to reduce the deficit to a single shot - but then required a full-house four shots in the final end to force the match into tie-breaks.
The champion nearly made it - taking three shots to tie the set, but leaving Thomson a 7-6, 7-7 victor.
It was fourth time lucky for the 52-year-old from London who had lost to Harlow in straight sets three times over the past year.
"I'm really pleased - especially as my record against Greg has not been brilliant," said Thomson.
"It was tight - but I thought I played slightly better and played some good big bowls," added the former world number one and world champion who has represented England for a record 26 consecutive years.
Harlow described the game as 'scrappy'. "I don’t think either of us really played well - you'd never really call it good enough to be a real spectacle," explained the deposed champion.
"Now I can look forward to my honeymoon - and a nice rest in Mexico," added Harlow.
The second match also provided an upset when fifth seed Paul Foster trounced Welshman Jason Greenslade, the fourth seed, 11-1, 7-6. Scotland's Foster, winner of the Matchroom Premier League Bowls crown last month, romped to a 7-0 lead before Greenslade made his mark.
At 1-5 down in the second set, the Welshman scored three shots to reduce the deficit to a single shot - but the three-time world champion from Ayrshire maintained the upper hand to claim his place in Friday's semi-finals.
In a dramatic third match on the WBT's portable rink at Ponds Forge, Scotland's record five-time world champion Alex Marshall suffered a rare whitewash defeat in the first set when Englishman Mervyn King swept to a 10-0 lead with two ends still to play.
Marshall, the second seed, made amends immediately in the second set by scoring a double - and went on to build up a 6-0 lead before King, the seventh seed from Norfolk, replied. And King fought on to within a shot of Marshall's total before the match was forced into a tie-break.
King won the first end, but Marshall drew level. In his final shot of the decider - with the jack some 18 inches from the ditch - King drew the shot. But the Scotsman played a mighty final delivery which knocked out King's bowl, but also touched the jack - with both the jack and Marshall's bowl finishing in the ditch.
Thinking he had lost, Marshall raised his hands to face - not realising that his 'toucher' was the winning bowl.
"I couldn't believe it when I heard the official announce me as the winner - I thought Mervyn had won. I was so focussed on Mervyn's bowl, I hadn't realised mine had touched the jack," said the delighted Scot, from Tranent, near Edinburgh.
Asked about the heavy defeat in the first set, Marshall said: "You've just got to put it out of your mind. But, even though Mervyn played well in the first set, I was always in the area. But it was essential to get the first shot in the second set.
"It was a really good game," added the 41-year-old. "Mervyn's one of the best players around - very steady."
King was downcast at his 'near miss': "I couldn't have done any more. I was well happy with what I achieved - 19 shots to his 10.
"I would say I played the better bowls, and lost," added the 42-year-old from Fakenham.
The final match of the day followed a similar course to the penultimate one: seasoned professional David Gourlay, the long-time world number one from Australia, comfortably won the first set after taking a 7-1 lead, then fell back in the second as event debutant Mark Royal, the sixth seed from England, recovered to draw level.
Gourlay took the lead in the first two tie-break ends - but in both cases newcomer Royal, from Stowmarket in Suffolk, snatched the final advantage to record a shock 6-8, 9-3, 2-0 victory.
Friday schedule:
Semi-finals
2.00pm [8] Andy Thomson (ENG) v [5] Paul Foster (SCO)
4.00pm (approx) [6] Mark Royal (ENG) v [2] Alex Marshall (SCO)
Final: 7.00pm
Thanks to Howard Harding