Merrien storms into the semi-finals down under
ALISON MERRIEN, who was runner-up in the inaugural World Champion of Champions singles in Australia in 2003, has earned the chance to go one better at Warilla in New South Wales, where she has powered her way into the semi-finals.
ALISON MERRIEN, who was runner-up in the inaugural World Champion of Champions singles in Australia in 2003, has earned the chance to go one better at Warilla in New South Wales, where she has powered her way into the semi-finals. As the title suggests, the event is open only to national champions, and, after finishing on top of her nine-woman group, the Guernsey star demolished the hopes of Welsh champion Kathy Pearce in today's quarter-finals.
Merrien was on top from start to finish against the player who has won back-to-back Welsh titles and who will represent her country in the world outdoor championships in Christchurch in January.
Opening with an emphatic 11-5 win in the first set, Merrien avoided the torment of a tiebreak when she raced to a 10-5 victory in the second set.
'It was a bit wet and windy at the start of the event, but it's warmed up a lot, and the greens here in Warilla are pretty quick,' said the Sarnian.
'The speed suited me down to the ground - Kathy didn't seem so comfortable with the fast greens and I was delighted to win in straight sets.'
Hostilities will be interrupted tomorrow, when players will have a welcome day of rest because the TV cameras are arriving to record the semi-finals and finals for Australian audiences.
It is understood that, just like the final stages of the 2003 event, the coverage will eventually be seen on Sky TV.
In the semi-finals, Merrien has an early chance of revenge.
She takes on Scotland's British Isles champion Kathy Houston, who chalked up a scratchy 3-12, 6-4, 2-1 win over the Sarnian at the round robin stage.
'Next up will be Kathy Houston, which will be a hard one, because she beat me in a cracking group game. I'm looking forward to avenging that defeat,' Merrien said.
'Before then it's a rest day tomorrow, before starting again first thing on Thursday morning.
'The final will be on Friday - and I hope to be involved in it.'
Malaysia's Commonwealth Games champion of 2002 and 2006, Siti Zalina Ahmad, will play Ireland's former world outdoor pairs champion Phillis Nolan in the other semi-final.
Merrien's continued success against the world's elite raises the question of the unfairness of the format for World Bowls, where, just because Guernsey's women bowlers failed to qualify as a team, one of the world's best players will be denied the chance of competing in the singles championship.
