Merrien less than an inch from glory

EVERYONE at Potters Leisure Resort said it was a remarkable final and that runner-up Alison Merrien had played her heart out.

But at the end of the day the WBT Women's World Matchplay title went to England star Debbie Stavrou, who returned a 12-7, 6-7, 2-1 scorecard.

The 34-year-old Guernsey star, winner of two world outdoor titles in two years, was unable to add a third, but she earned the admiration of a large crowd as she battled bravely to the end.

'I'm disappointed, of course I am,' Merrien said when she left the rink, 'but I'm not gutted.

'Over the whole match, Debbie bowled better than I did, so she deserved to win - but I was always in with a chance.'

Although she actually played well for the first two ends, Merrien claimed her bad spell in the first set was caused by the unsettling effect of the unusual opening sequence, when the finalists were required to walk on to the rink with music, carrying bouquets.