Merriens through to KOs

THE weekend brought more good news from Down Under with Ian and Alison Merrien marching on confidently into the knockout stages of the men's and women's Bowls World Cup at the Warilla club in New South Wales.

Ali was delighted to secure a great victory over her old rival Jo Edwards, from New Zealand, who beat her in the semi finals of the World Champion of Champions in Hong Kong last November.

This time, in a quality game, Ali hit top form and held a firm grip to win in straight sets, 10-5, 9-5, against the holder of the title, leaving the top spot in the group to be decided by a crunch between Ali and Ireland's unbeaten Cliodhna Eadie.

After a hesitant start, in which Ali admitted she was not 'nailing' the jack, the Sarnian got her act together in the second set, and ran out a worthy winner, 8-10, 16-6, 4-0.