Glassey Tipped out by Thomson

GLASSEY TIPPED OUT BY THOMSON

New Zealand Professional Bowls Association number one Murray Glassey lead early in his second round match in the Co-operative FuneralCare International Open Singles in Blackpool, England over fifth seed Andy Thomson MBE however momentum and fortune tipped the Englishman’s way in an absorbing 7-6, 10-5 result. The early ends of the first set saw Glassey on top with the same clinical dead-draw or yard-on jack movements we have grown used to seeing at his home Heretaunga club in Hastings.

Glassey was up 6-2 after 6 ends and looking good, however a soft three brought Thomson back into the match and perhaps pressured Glassey into a mistake that he will rue. The Hawkes Bay player was holding shot on the 8th end which would have given him a 2 shot advantage into the last end of the set but with his last bowl he stayed on the less swingy backhand only to knock a Thomson bowl in for shot. Thomson then ran off a Glassey bowl on the final end leaving Glassey with inches to draw shot. The kiwi had perfect weight but was slightly narrow and could not get around the shot bowl.

As often happens with momentum shift, luck deserted Glassey in the second set. A Thomson drive to clear out two shots took out Glassey’s next nearest as well; a perfect-looking Glassey trail turned into a slice of hell adding to Thomson’s shots, and run shots that looked on target would turn late hitting on the wrong part of a bowl or slide just under the head to prevent the NZ number one from closing Thomson’s early lead.

This was still the best performance by a New Zealander on the World Bowls Tour for three years and bodes well for Glassey to defend his number one status and pick up more chances to venture back to the UK when the New Zealand PBA programme commences on Queen’s Birthday Weekend at the start of June at five venues around the country.