Bowls: Royal's World pairs hopes end

Stowmarket's Mark Royal and partner Simon Skelton, of Nottinghamshire, are out of the  World Indoor Pairs Championship at Hopton-on-Sea after losing 2-0 to Scottish qualifiers Michael Stepney and Andrew Baker in the semi-final this afternoon.

Royal and Skelton were hot favourites but, despite winning the first end of both legs, they rarely looked likely to overcome the surprise pairing and went down 11-3, 8-4.
Royal is scheduled to meet Jamie Chestney in the World Singles on Wednesday and starts his Mixed Pairs World Matchplay with Janice Gower against Ian Bond and Julie Forrest on Friday.
Read the Eastern Daily Press report on the action, here.

• See the latest news from Hopton-on-Sea and watch pay per view of the action on the World Bowls Tour website.