East Lothian's Beth Riva, a 21 year old law student at Napier University in Edinburgh, claimed the last of the semi-final berths in the @Ambassador Ladies World Matchplay Singles this evening (Sunday 19th January).
As a first-time player in these Championships, she came up against another player making her debut in the shape of Colleen Piketh, a 52 year old teacher and a multi-decorated World and Commonwealth Games bowls champion from Mossel Bay in South Africa.
Riva, the youngest player in this event, is the niece of bowling legend Alex Marshall MBE and he was in the audience supporting her as she came through in straight sets 8-2, 7-5.
She lost only two ends in the first set but Piketh responded in the second set, taking a 4-3 lead after five ends.
However, despite some fine bowling by both players, the Gifford-based Riva replied with 1, 2, 1 to take a 7-4 lead into the last end, and she was content to drop a single to win the set 7-5, to keep alive her hopes of a tilt at the title.
Her next sojourn will be in the semi-finals on Wednesday 22nd January when she takes on England's Chelsea Spencer in the last match of the day at 7.30pm. Â The winner will progress to the final on Thursday 23rd at 1pm which will be shown live on BBC Television.
MATCH RESULT
LADIES WORLD MATCH PLAY SINGLES
(Sunday 19th January / QF4 )
Beth Riva (Scot) bt Colleen Piketh (South Africa) 2-0 (8-2, 7-5)
Comments