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NORTH OF SCOTLAND MARCH INTO WORLD FINAL

Updated: Jan 15




Garioch's Jason Banks and Mike Stepney from Elgin in the North of Scotland cemented their place in the title decider of the @Ambassador Cruise Line World Indoor Bowls Open Pairs earlier today, holding off a late challenge from Norfolk's Mervyn King and Scotland's David Gourlay to post an 8-2, 9-11, 2-1 victory.


It was a slow start for both pairs with Mike Stepney doing most of the damage and instrumental in winning the first set 8-2.


Banks came onto a good game in the second and a great start of 2, 3 and 3 gave them an 8-0 advantage and it looked very much as though the writing was on the wall for King and Gourlay


However in an amazing twist of fate, the game was turned on its head by Gourlay over the last six ends as he changed the landscape of the set. Rolling back the years he rolled in a succession of precision shots to score on five of the remaining six ends to win the set 11-9 and take the match a best of three end shoot out to keep themselves in contention.


Once again, Gourlay kept that momentum in the tie break, going ahead for the first time in the match after winning the first end.


On the second Gourlay smacked the jack to the left hand side of the rink held a match lie but left Stepney and easy one metre draw to level the score at 1-1 - then Banks and Stepney secured the vital match deciding last end to move through 2-1.


It will be Stepney's third Open Pairs final - losing with clubmate Andrew Barker and then with Jason Greenslade.


WORLD OPEN PAIRS

SEMI-FINAL 1

SCOT (Jason Banks & Mike Stepney) bt ENG/SCOT (Mervyn King & David Gourlay MBE) 8-2, 9-11, 2-1;







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