Welsh delight as Morgan hits double top

Bowls

Betty Morgan, the Welsh international, completed a British Women's Championship double when she took the singles and pairs titles at Portrush yesterday. The 52-year-old local government officer battled to a 25-23 win over Margaret Johnston, the world champion.

Morgan opened with a single and double and was never behind, although Johnston got back to all-square on three occasions - at 3-3 after three ends, 5-5 after five and 8-8 after nine.

Morgan, in partnership with her Llandrindod Wells clubmate, Jenny Davies, retained the pairs title they won last year when they beat Ireland's Geraldine Law and Pat Horner 24-15.

By the close of the 10th end the defending champions were in command, but eight ends later the Irish pair had closed the gap to 15-19. However, Davies and Morgan counted four doubles to wrap up a 24-15 win without playing the last end.

The English champions, Chrissie Winter, Pam Garden and Doreen Hankin from Surrey, took the triples title when a last-end double gave them a 16-14 win over Scotland, while Ireland celebrated their first success when Phillis Nolan's Blackrock rink took the fours.