Guernsey Press

Priaulx still on course despite a first defeat

ALL good things come to an end, they say, and it was certainly true for Guernsey’s Todd Priaulx at the St John’s Park bowls club in Sydney yesterday when he suffered his first defeat in eight matches in the World Bowls Champion of Champions singles event.

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Todd Priaulx bowls, watched by Canada's Pat Bird, on the dreaded Rink 13 at St John's Park in Sydney. (Picture from David Rhys-Jones, 19730600)

After losing last night in straight sets, 12-3, 7-5, to tall Canadian Pat Bird, Priaulx could have been forgiven if he felt disappointed, but he is still on course to clinch a place in Saturday’s knockout stage and was able put a brave face on things.

‘Look,’ he said, ‘all the players in this event are national champions, so it’s a really tough tournament.

‘I’m amazed how I was able to achieve seven games without defeat.

‘Pat played better than I did on the dreaded Rink 13 and deserved to win.’

Earlier, on a very fast rink, Priaulx had to work hard to get the better of the New Zealand champion Dean Elgar, who was very much at home on such a lightning-fast surface.

  • More in Thursday's Guernsey Press.