Bowls: Bryant knocked out

DAVID BRYANT, the three-times winner, was knocked out in the first round of the world indoor championships in Preston last night. He lost in five sets to Australia's Dennis Katunarich, only the third time in 15 appearances Bryant has failed to survive the first round.

'I was playing really well during the early stages but I failed to last the course,' he said. Bryant was left regretting a tactical error in the deciding set that cost him his chance of victory. 'I opted for a short- length jack and dropped counts of three on the first two ends. That cost me any chance I had.'

Hugh Duff came out on top in the battle of former indoor champions when the 1988 title-holder edged out Swansea's Terry Sullivan, the winner in 1985, in a tense five-set marathon.

The encounter lasted 3hr and 26min before the 28-year-old Duff sealed his place in the second round. 'The rink was very difficult and it wasn't easy to conquer it,' Duff said. The opening set went to Sullivan but Duff hit back by taking the next two. Sullivan forced a decider when he took the fourth set

7-6 before Duff completed his win.

MIDLAND BANK WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (Guild Hall, Preston) First round: J Price (Wal) bt N Graham (N Irl) 7-6 7-5 7-0; J Muir (Sco) bt G Lawson (NZ) 7-2 7-1 7-1; J Rabkin (Isr) bt P Rowlands (Wal) 7-4 3-7 7-2 7-2; R Parrella (Aus) bt I McLure (Irl) 7-5 7-3 3-7 7-2; H Duff (Eng) bt T Sullivan (Wal) 4-7 7-3 7-0 6-7 7-3; D Katunarich (Aus) bt D Bryant (Eng) 7-6

2-7 6-7 7-2 7-2; G Robertson (Sco) bt P Belliss (NZ) 7-3 7-3 7-2.