Moray bowler Michael Stepney narrowly misses out on World indoor bowls championships singles semi-finals after losing a final set tiebreak to five-time champion Paul Foster
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MICHAEL Stepney's world indoor bowls adventure is over for another year after the closest of defeats in the quarter-finals.
The Elgin bowler lost out in a tiebreak to five-time champion and fellow Scot Paul Foster in Friday's last-eight battle at Potters Resort in Norfolk.
"I just had to dig in," said 14th seed Stepney, who lost the opening set despite nearly scoring a four in the final end in an effort to draw.
"Paul, in the first set his first two bowls were amazing.
"I played pretty well after that."
Stepney won the second set 8-4 to force the tiebreak and eventual winner Foster said to World Bowls Tour: "Michael thoroughly deserved that second set.
"He played some brilliant bowls and I was under the cosh."
Stepney (41) had defeated Englishmen Ian Honnor and David Bolt to reach the quarters and took part in an epic match against Foster.
It was Foster who took charge early on, racing into a 4-0 lead after three sets and when his lead increased to six shots with three ends to play, it looked all over.
However a stunning response by Stepney saw him score singles at the next two ends and in the last end he was lying four shots and a possible drawn set until Foster played a power shot with his last bowl to dislodge the jack and win the set 8-3.
The Moray man was always in charge of the second set, which he won 8-4 with some great shot selections.
See whole match on World Bowls Tour Facebook below.
In the first end of the tiebreak, Foster was holding shot and Stepney was an inch away from dislodging it with a power shot in his final bowl.
Foster was lying at least two shots in end two, and again Stepney went with power to try and disturb the head but was off target, handing his opponent the narrowest of wins.
