WBT – @ West Lothian Indoor BC
Session 4
World Top 16 and Elgin star Michael Stepney faced off against West Lothian home favourite and qualifier Cameron Greer as they took to the streaming rink in the final session of day 1 of the Scottish International Open. The players were tied at 4-4 after 5 ends before Greer hit the front with doubles on end 7 and 8, before wrapping up set 1. Stepney pressed from the start of set 2 and raced to a 9-2 lead in his bid to force a tie-break. Greer briefly responded with singles at ends 6 and 7 before Stepney scored a single of his own to win the second set and send the match into a tie break. Greer opted to keep the jack after winning the toss, backing himself on the draw. A tactic that he was proven right with moments later as he drew a back toucher with his first delivery. He played out the end covering back position and one of the re-spots. Stepney opted that he was unable to beat the winner on the draw and chose to run at his own bowl on the backhand and onto the jack to win the first end on the right hand re-spot. In a similar scenario Greer looked to have all the aces as he held a match levelling lie, Stepney once again looked for a runner only to see the jack rebound up the rink to a Greer bowl. A nervy last end left both players unsure of who’s bowl was lying the game, Greer looked to navigate his own jack high bowl, only to clip it on the way passed. Stepney unwilling to take the chance on the measure returned to the mat and drew the winning shot. Michael Stepney beat Cameron Greer 2-1 (7-9, 10-5, 2-1).
Wayne Willgress took full control in his match against Alex Lee (Hong Kong) as the qualifier failed to really grasp the pace of the surface. Dropping just 2 ends on his way to a first set win. In a similar pattern Lee failed to match his seeded counterpart Willgress and found himself trailing 5-1 before carding his first shot of Set 2. Another five unanswered shots was sufficient to see Willgress claim his spot in round 2. Wayne Willgress beat Alex Lee 2-0 (10-2, 10-1)
Mervyn King and South African qualifier Wayne York couldn’t have been a bigger contrast in styles. Where the qualifier looked the aggressor, King looked every part the composed and well-rounded drawer the tour has come to expect. After losing the opening end, King failed to drop another shot on his way to claiming the opening set. In a similar pattern to the first set, King scored 8 shots in the opening 5 ends to open a commanding lead in the second set and the match. Singles at end 7 and 8 enough to march into round 2. Mervyn King beat Wayne York 2-0 (12-1,10-3)
World open singles runner-up Jason Banks looked locked in a tight battle with qualifier Jon Wilson, with the qualifier building up a 5-4 lead after 6 ends in a low scoring affair. Banks continued to apply the pressure on his way to claiming the first set, winning the remaining three ends. The second set proved more fruitful for the Garioch man losing just two ends in a commanding second set performance. Jason Banks beat Jon Wilson 2-0 (10-5, 7-2)
(Matt Osborne)
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