Barker and Stepney undone by nerves
A slow start saw the Elgin duo trail 5-0 after just two ends of the opening set yesterday and they went on to lose 11-6. However, they found form in the second and went into a 7-0 lead after just four ends, but the defending champions staged a storming finish, reeling off eight shots over the last five ends to nudge the result and block a tie break 8-7.
"That was a close one" admitted Kerkow later. "I did my homework on the two boys and I know that they have won several national titles so I didn't underestimate them. They played really well, and, all credit to them, pushed us all the way."
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Hide AdHistory was also made on the portable rink yesterday, with 17-year-old Jarrad Breen from Tonyrefail in Mid Glamorganshire, the youngest player ever to compete in a WBT event, taking the scalp of reigning Welsh International champion Robert Chisholm from Newcastle upon Tyne.
In a hard-fought exchange, a single on the last end of the first sets squared the set at 5-5, but in the second, a double and two singles left Breen 7-3 ahead with two ends to play and he held his nerve to win 9-5.