STOWMARKET'S provisional world No. 5 Mark Royal suffered a surprise second-round defeat at the hand of Norfolk 20-year-old Jamie Chestney in the Potters Holidays World Indoor Singles Bowls at Hopton last night.

STOWMARKET'S provisional world No. 5 Mark Royal suffered a surprise second-round defeat at the hand of Norfolk 20-year-old Jamie Chestney in the Potters Holidays World Indoor Singles Bowls at Hopton last night.

Royal, pictured, celebrates his 32 birthday today but rank outsider Chestney, the English, British Isles and World Under-25s champion from Fakenham, grabbed the icing on the cake. Chestney rocketed into a 4-0 lead and advanced to take the opening set 7-2.

Royal was poised to capture the second set, which would have forced a sudden-death showdown when he drilled home a single and treble to lead 7-3 with just two ends to play. Chestney gained a double and was holding one shot at the final end when he delivered a wonder wood to within an inch of the jack. Royal powered his last bowl into the head and was unlucky not to get a result. The 7-7 drawn set took Chestney through. “I knew it was going to be tough. It wasn't the best birthday present,” said Royal. “His match winner was a fantastic wood.”