Royal has hopes crushed

Published: 11:15 AM November 8, 2002

Updated: 7:57 PM February 17, 2021

INDOOR BOWLS: Ipswich's Mark Royal saw his dream of winning the £70,000 BUPA International Open bowls title foiled by Welsh International Jason Greenslade as he chased a quarter-final place at the Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield.

INDOOR BOWLS

IPSWICH'S Mark Royal saw his dream of winning the £70,000 BUPA International Open bowls title foiled by Welsh International Jason Greenslade as he chased a quarter-final place at the Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield.

Royal, who reached the semi-finals of this tournament in 2000, looked poised to take the opening set when he hit back from 3-1 down, scoring a single and treble to leap ahead 5-3 with just two ends to play.

However, the Suffolk ace was stunned as Greenslade clawed back two successive singles to draw the set 5-5.

That turned the second set into a decider and Royal moved into a 3-1 lead with four ends to play.

However, it was Greenslade who delivered the goods in the charge to the line, stringing together four successive singles to edge through 5-3, securing his place in the last eight.