Quarter-finals within reach

LUCY BEERE and Matt Le Ber moved closer to qualifying for the quarter-finals of the World Bowls Champion of Champions on the windswept Ayr Northfield greens yesterday.

Beere (pictured), who has had to negotiate tie-breaks in every one of her first six matches, defeated Zimbabwe's Jane Rigby 8-6, 8-10, 2-1, but was pipped by Singapore's May Lee, who returned a 5-7, 7-6, 3-1 scorecard.

'I've played in the European championships before, but it's been a great experience to meet bowlers from all over the world, and it's reassuring to know I can hold my own against them,' said Beere, who has won four games in six to date.

Le Ber opened with a 9-5, 9-5 straight-sets win over Phil Jones, who was born in Australia, but who is representing Norfolk Island in these championships.

After lunch, when he added a 6-5, 7-5 win over Spain's Tony McKenna, who was born in York, it meant that the Vale Rec. man had played six games and won five, and was well on course for places in the last eight.