SOUTH AFRICA'S COLLEEN PIKETH TAKES SCALP OF FORMER CHAMPION MERVYN KING

Day 7 of the Ambassador Cruise Line World Indoor Bowls Open Singles Championships started the same way as Day 6 had ended - with a former winner of the title crashing out - this time it was Mervyn King who joined Jamie Walker on the sidelines.

King came up against South Africa's Colleen Piketh, who replaced PBA South Africa colleague Gerry Baker who was ill.

A winner of World and Commonwealth titles from various corners of the world and a multi winner of national titles, the teacher from Mossel Bay on the Western Cape of the country, Piketh certainly lived up to her reputation.

She trailed 6-1 after five ends but them polished off the closing four ends to win 7-6.

In the second set the score line was shared at 5-5 after five ends, but three singles in a row left King in a comfortable position and he went on to win the set 8-7 to force the match to a tie break

Once again Piketh stepped up to the task in front of her and won the best of the three end tie break 2-0 to land a 2nd Round spot on Wednesday 22nd January against Tyneside qualifier Paul Hartley - who had also progressed the previous evening against a seeded player in the shape of Jamie Walker.

RESULT

WORLD OPEN SINGLES - ROUND 1 Cont'd (16th January / Match 1)

SOUTH AFRICA (Colleen Piketh/Q) bt ENG (Mervyn King/13=) 7-6, 7-8, 2-0.