CREDITON'S Ian Bond and pairs partner Andy Thomson put on a stunning performance to win the world indoor pairs bowls title.

Bond and Thomson repeated their success of 2008, winning the pairs title at Potters Holidays indoor championships, held in Norfolk.

Thomson and Bond were behind until the final stages of the second set, when Thomson steered the pair into a best-of-three ends tie-break after winning the set by three shots.

After taking the first end and leading in the second, Londoner Thomson and "Devon Destroyer" Bond watched in shock as Scot, David Gourlay, a long-time former world number one, delivered a stunning bowl to force the tie-break into a third end decider.

But, after the Scot again played a near impossible shot to save the end, Thomson lined up to deliver his last bowl - and powered the jack and his own bowl into the ditch to make it almost impossible for Gourlay to respond.

"David would have had to draw his last bowl to leave it hanging over the ditch to win," admitted the exuberant new champions after their unlikely 4-9, 8-5, 2-1 victory.

"That was surely the greatest bowl I've ever played - it was without doubt the most important," said 54-year-old Thomson.

Bond added: "David (Gourlay) produced unbelievable bowls throughout the game - and even with his final delivery almost drew the shot."

Ian said he was "absolutely delighted" with the win.

He added: "It was an unbelievable match and right up until the very end it could have gone either way.

"But, at a tournament like this you have to produce the goods to beat the best players and that's what we did."

Ian said it was probably the best tie-breaks he had ever been involved in, adding: "It was an absolutely brilliant game with some great bowls - probably one of the most exciting games of my career.

"The game was up and down all the time. We thought we could win, then we thought we couldn't and we really didn't know until Andy's last bowl that we were going to do it.

"Andy and I honestly believed we were the underdogs, they were playing so well. But we're glad we played as we did."

Ian admitted he was disappointed after he crashed out of the world indoor singles competition.

He faced teenage Australian qualifier Ben Twist, who stunned the Exonia and Crediton player with a powerful display.

The 19-year-old had watched Ian winning the pairs just two days before and was clearly nervous at the start, but turned on the style to win in straight sets, 7-5, 8-4.

Ian said: "I'm disappointed, naturally, but I was reasonably satisfied with my game.

"In fact, if Ben hadn't played exceptionally well, I think it's a game I would have won."

More recently, Ian had another defeat whilst representing Devon, who slipped out of the Liberty Trophy as a result.

Ian has now set his sights on the Welsh Open at the end of January.

alan-quick@crediton

couriernewspaper.co.uk