DAY 1 - Match 1
Canadian qualifiers Dylan Jacobs and Kody Olthof took the scalps of seasoned English duo Louis Ridout and Sam Tolchard to book a last sixteen spot tomorrow (Saturday 6th) in the Imagine Cruising UK sponsored event against Scotland's Mike Stepney and Jason Greenslade - who is now representing Guernsey.
It would be fair to say that the English qualifiers - recently crowned Commonwealth Games triples gold medallist Ridout and his partner Tolchard - who won the World Champion of Champions in New Zealand just last month - both from the Torquay United club, were widely quoted as the outright favourites for this match, but that never materialised with the Canadians denying the Englishmen time and time again to win in straight sets.
England led 4-3 after 5 ends of the opening set but Canada charged over the finishing line in style with a 2,1,2 and 1 finish to take the set 9-4.
They maintained that momentum in the second, taking a 5-0 lead. However three ends later England had squared the set at 5-5 and with two ends remaining and it was looking likely that the match would go to a tie break.
But the Canadians stood firm, counting back to back singles to take the set 7-5 and book their last 16 spot.
RESULT - Dylan Jacobs & Kody Olthof (Q/Canada) bt Louis Ridout & Sam Tolchard (Q/Eng) 9-4, 7-5.
Comments