Bowls: England pair take fast lane

ENGLAND'S Gary Smith and Andy Thomson established a record for the fastest victory in the World Indoor Bowls championships, in Preston Guild Hall last night. In their first-round match, the No 2 seeds defeated the Welshmen, Colin Edwards and Ieuan Terry, 7-3, 7-0, 7-0 in 76 minutes.

For Thomson, it was consolation for his surprise singles defeat the previous evening. It was a good day for the seeded pairs as Ireland's Steve Adamson and Ian McClure, semi-finalists last year, reached the quarter-finals along with Australia's Cameron Curtis and Ian Schuback and New Zealand's Peter Belliss and Gary Larson.

The New Zealanders took the first set against the Irish father and son pair, Brian and Marcus Craig, in just four ends. The Irish pair fought back in the third set to level at 6-6, but a fine last wood by Belliss clinched the match.

Schuback and his new doubles partner, 22-year-old Curtis, swept aside England's Ted and Ian Boyle in straight sets. The English father and son team made a fight of the first set, but, despite two last-ditch woods by Ian in the third, could not prolong the game.

For Schuback it was a useful warm-up for the start of the defence of his singles title this afternoon, against Guernsey's Mike Nicolle.

Results, Sport in Short, page 31