Pitschou back in the game after win

AFTER an unfortunate start to the event on Thursday, Guernsey's bowlers, with WBL world number one Alison Merrien at the helm, enjoyed better fortunes on day two of the WIBC world indoor championships in Swansea yesterday.

[caption id="attachment_32217" align="alignright" width="175" caption="Gary Pitschou won his first match on day two but his terrible luck on day one is likely to count against him when it comes to qualifying. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0708883)"]

Gary Pitschou won his first match on day two but his terrible luck on day one is likely to count against him when it comes to qualifying. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0708883)

A fine win in the women's singles for Merrien was quickly followed by a great victory for Gary Pitschou, while Neal Mollet had to sit and watch through the day, before taking on Jersey's Lee Nixon last night.

Last year, while this event was unfolding in Swansea, Merrien was 12,000 miles away, winning the WBL Women's World Cup in Warilla, so she was delighted to be able to challenge for the WIBC title this time around.

The first day was one to forget, as Merrien lost a desperately close encounter with 23-year-old Welsh sensation Kerry Packwood, who won the WIBC world under-25 singles title at the Hougue du Pommier stadium in Guernsey in 2007.

Merrien's hopes were kept alive as she defeated England's Liz Tunn on a tie-break and she stressed her claims yesterday when she defeated the Scottish champion, Julie Forrest, 4-3, 10-4.

It was singles all the way in the first set, with Merrien going into the last end 4-2 in front and she was happy to drop a single.

But there was only one player in it in the second set, as Merrien opened up a 6-0 lead, then played it tight to take a 7-4 lead into the last end, when she scored a treble that will do her shots difference no harm at all.