Blackpool bowler Dawes in world singles final

Blackpool's Mark Dawes has won through to his first-ever world singles final as he bids for a historic double at the World Indoor Bowls Championships
Mark Dawes in semi-final action at PottersMark Dawes in semi-final action at Potters
Mark Dawes in semi-final action at Potters

The Blackpool Newton Hall bowler won through to Sunday's final with a 8-7 10-5 semi-final victory over 2014 champion Darren Burnett at the Potters Resort in Norfolk.

The 35-year-old now hopes to crown his superb championships with victory over Somerset's Robert Paxton in the final.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Having sealed the doubles crown with Jamie Chestney last Monday, Dawes now finds himself on the cusp of a historic double thanks to a brilliant display against Commonwealth Games gold medalist Burnett.

Dawes bowled excellently to overcome Mark Royal in the quarter-final on Friday, but this was a notch above as he barely gave the Scot an inch, finding the jack with laser-like precision end after end.

He carved out an early 4-1 lead with two doubles and that soon became 8-4, and with Burnett chasing the game, he managed to claw back three shots, but it wasn’t enough and first blood went to Dawes.

Burnett afterwards spoke of a back problem that was hindering him, but even without any such issues he would have struggled to contain Dawes, who turned around a 2-0 deficit in the second set to a 7-2 advantage across four ends.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Arbroath policeman picked up a three on end seven, but this only served to delay the inevitable as Dawes claimed a treble on the next end to wrap up the match and book his place in the showpiece.

Paxton defeated Wayne Willgress, also 2-0, in the other semi.