Bowls: Wilkins' winning treble

Dai Wilkins, the Welsh champion, caused the first major upset of the British Championships in Worthing yesterday when he beat the English champion, John Ottaway, 21-12 in the preliminary round of the singles.

Ottaway, the favourite, trailed from the early stages as Wilkins opened up an 8-6 lead after 12 ends and extended that to lead 18-10 after 19 ends.

Ottaway closed the gap with a double on the 20th end, but a fine last bowl strike from Wilkins, on the next end, sprung the jack for the three shots he needed for victory.

Ireland's Jeremy Henry moved through to the final when he beat Scotland's Pat McNally 21-17. Henry led 20-12 but the Scot rallied to close the gap to 17-20.

The fightback ended on the next when Henry got the single he needed to secure the win.