Pitschou falls to Australian favourite

GARY PITSCHOU suffered a narrow defeat in the quarter-finals of the WBL world outdoor singles championship in Christchurch yesterday. After winning eight of his 11 group matches, Pitschou was drawn to play title favourite Aron Sherriff from Australia in the knockout stage and did well to take the Aussie to a highly respectable 21-17 scoreline.

Sherriff went on to beat the host country's big hope, Ali Forsyth, 21-20 in the semi finals and was lined up to play Malaysia's Safuan Said today for the most coveted title in world bowls.

In a generally disappointing championships for bowlers from the northern hemisphere, Scotland won the only gold medal for the UK - the men's triples - in the first half of the event.

England's Wendy King and Ellen Falkner, in the women's pairs, are the only UK players to have reached the finals in the second half of the tournament.