ALISON MERRIEN coasted through her World Cup quarter-final at Warilla in New South Wales this morning to set up an early chance of revenge against Australia’s Karen Murphy, who beat her in her last group match.
There was always only going to be one winner, as the 33-year-old Sarnian recovered her best form to overwhelm Spain’s Lynne Metcalfe, 10-4, 13-1.
Metcalfe hails from Swinton in Yorkshire and was a regular qualifier at the English championships until 2004. However, she has emigrated to Spain where she quickly caught the eye of the Spanish selectors.
Merrien finds herself in stellar company in the semi-finals.
Not only does she face Murphy, who won the world outdoor pairs title in January, but the two contesting the other semi-final tomorrow are top world stars.
New Zealand’s new world outdoo champion Val Smith, whom Merrien beat in the qualifying group, takes on Scotland’s Margaret Letham, who many believe should have won the world title in 2000, when her bowls were controversially disqualified.
Victory in this event – one of many tournaments carrying the ‘World’ label – would put Merrien, who is already ranked number four in the world by World Bowls Limited, on a pedestal.
It would probably elevate her to number two in the ranking list.
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