SCOTS David Gourlay and Paul Foster claimed the first two places in the quarter-finals of the Potters Holidays World Indoor Singles Championship after surviving closely-contested third round matches.

SCOTS David Gourlay and Paul Foster claimed the first two places in the quarter-finals of the Potters Holidays World Indoor Singles Championship after surviving closely-contested third round matches.

Sixth seed Gourlay, winner of the title in 1996, carved out a first set lead against Kelvin Kerkow at Potters Leisure Resort - but the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist from Australia romped to a 7-1 lead in the second as the Scot's form dipped.

However, the Glaswegian moved up a gear to take the final four ends - scoring a triple in the eighth - to claim a dramatic 7-3, 7-7 victory.

"At 7-1 down, I thought I was out - and just relaxed," said Gourlay. "And that lifted my game.

"It's the first year I've been completely happy on the rink," added the 43-year-old world No5 who was runner-up in Sunday's World Mixed Pairs final, with Scottish compatriot Ceri Ann Davies.

"Kelvin's a hard man to play - and I don't have a good record against him. I'm just happy to be in the quarter-finals."

Before racing off to Heathrow airport for a flight home later in the evening, Kerkow said: "David played better than me on the long jacks, but I thought I outplayed him on the short ends.

"But I just haven't had enough games," added the 40-year-old Queenslander. "I've only played one game here - last Friday - and that isn't enough. You just can't get into any rhythm.

"Playing in that Mixed Pairs event is a big advantage."

Fourth seed Foster, a three-time champion, was behind unseeded compatriot Darren Burnett in both sets - but played some big bowls to secure a 7-7, 9-8 win.

At two shots down going into the final end, and with Burnett holding shot, Foster delivered a stunning bowl to make two and tie the set. In the last end of the second set, outsider Burnett was holding two shots when Foster sent down his penultimate bowl to put himself one shot ahead.

Two wayward shots by Burnett failed to change the head - and Foster's last delivery increased his count to two to give him victory.

"I'm disappointed because I feel I played the better bowls overall, to be honest," said Dundee policeman Burnett. "I keep losing to Paul by small margins - but this was probably the worst.

"I didn't deserve to lose the first set the way I played those last two ends," added the dejected 33-year-old from Arbroath.

Foster, the provisional world number one from Troon in Ayrshire, felt that it was the first time ever he had been beaten at short jacks. "My strong point always was the shorter jacks, but Darren hammered me today" explained the 36-year-old who won last month's Scottish International Open.

"But you have to play big bowls to win games - and I did."

There were comfortable wins for the top two seeds in the quarter-finals of the Ladies World Matchplay Championship when favourite Debbie Stavrou, the defending champion from Buckinghamshire beat Israel's Ruthy Gilor 8-2, 9-3, and Alison Merrien, the second seed from Guernsey, defeated England's Janice Gower 13-6, 7-6.

Tuesday (19 January) schedule:

10am

Ladies World Matchplay Championship, quarter-finals

Sarah Seymour (ENG) v Dee McSparran (USA)

1pm

World Singles Championship, 3rd round:

[Q] Stewart Anderson (SCO) v [2] Alex Marshall, MBE (SCO)

Hirendra Bhartu (CAN) v [16] Jonathan Ross (IRE)

7.30pm

Ladies World Matchplay Championship, quarter-finals

Carol Ashby (ENG) v Kerry Packwood (WAL)

Wednesday (20 January) schedule:

10am

Ladies World Matchplay Championship, semi-finals

Ashby or Packwood v [2] Alison Merrien (GUE)

1pm

World Singles Championship, 3rd round:

[Q] Jarrad Breen (WAL) v Nick Brett (ENG)

Steve Glasson (AUS) v [Q] Robert Paxton (ENG)

7.30pm

Ladies World Matchplay Championship, semi-finals

[1] Debbie Stavrou (ENG) v Seymour or McSparran