Merrien's 'perfect bowl' not a lucky one

WHILE Ali Merrien failed in Belfast to get further than the last 16 in her bid to win a place in the World Bowls Tour Welsh International Open, husband Ian (pictured) defeated two more Irishmen on his way to the semi-finals.

But, after beating Nigel Gibson in straight sets, 5-4, 6-3, and Simon Martin, 1-10, 7-3, 2-1, he slipped up against local hope Barry Quinn, 2-6, 5-4, 1-2, and was left rueing his luck after delivering what he thought was a perfect bowl.

'On the third end of the tiebreak, I was shot against, but had two chances of getting the shot,' Ian said.

'Either I could chop his bowl out of the head, or I could move the jack - either way, the match was mine.'

Spot on target, Merrien chased his bowl up the green, but was dismayed when the jack went a few inches too far and left Quinn holding shot.

'It's a bit early in the season and I was playing on a "foreign" green, but I felt I played some really big bowls,' Ian said.

'Nine times out of 10, I'd have got a result with that last wood - and I'd have been playing the final.'

Ali was disappointed with her form in her morning encounter with Eric Sands, who pipped her on a tiebreak, 5-6, 6-5, 2-1.