The World Indoor Bowls Championships enters its second week this weekend and here's the lowdown for Sunday's matches:
World Pairs Final: David Gourlay & Billy Jackson v Andy Thomson & Ian Bond
The bookies cannot separate the two combos, with bet365 going 10-11 for both pairs, but I'm siding with Gourlay and Jackson to land their third World Pairs title together, having won this crown in 2006 and 2007.
History is on their side in clashes with their big rivals and seventh seeds Bond and Thomson, having beaten them twice in the last three years at Potters. This will be their fourth successive meeting in the event, with the previous three coming at the semi-final stage – Bond and Thomson came out on top back in 2008 on their way to the title.
Gourlay and Jackson have breezed to the final having not lost a set in their three matches and knocked out last year's winners, Mervyn King and Kelvin Kerkow, on Saturday with a hugely impressive performance. Of course, Jackson is also the reigning World Indoor Singles champion and looks in good nick and with his partner they compliment each other perfectly.
Thomson and Bond are no mugs having ousted the second and third-seed pairings, but they've had to grind out results and it just seems to me that Jackson and Gourlay will have the edge.
World Indoor Singles First Round: Ben Twist v Geoff Wilson
Critics say bowls is an old man's sport, but try telling that to 19-year-old Aussie Twist who looks a good shout at even money to see off Kiwi Wilson in a clash between the Antipodean rivals.
Former top Australian junior Twist has qualified for Potters at virtually the first attempt, while 57-year-old Wilson has been trying for years to get to the hallowed venue on the Norfolk coast.
Wilson played with Philip Bennett in the pairs earlier in the week and was thrashed by eighth seeds Les Gillett and Richard Morgan, so that doesn't bode well for the New Zealander's chance and he could come unstuck again.
Twist is highly-rated Down Under, will play with no fear like all good Aussie sportsmen do and I think he'll do the business.
World Indoor Singles First Round: Ruthy Gilor v Gary Hutchison
Israel's Gilor is the lone lady in the first round – USA's Dee McSparran lost in the preliminary round on Friday morning – and the 54-year-old Kiryat Ono bowler is not fancied to get past Scottish novice Hutchison, who is less than half her age.
Gilor created a little bit of history six years ago when she was the first lady to compete in this event and she was hammered by England's Chris Gale in the preliminary round play-off and I can see it being a struggle for her again this time around.
Bowlers from Israel don't tend to fare too well at Potters and especially against bowlers from the home nations and although the price is on the tight side, the 1-3 about Hutchison is a must bet.
He may have a lot less experience under his belt than Gilor, but he's one of the top young bowlers north of the border and showed his wellbeing by reaching the quarter-final of the recent Scottish National Junior Singles, where he went out to Stewart Anderson, who has been the subject of a betting frenzy in the past few days, being backed into 6-1 favourite for the event from 40s just a week ago.
I will be amazed if this isn't a straight sets win for Hutchison.
Recommended bets:
5pts Hutchison 1-3 (Skybet, Boylesports, Betfred, Paddy Power, Stan James)
3pts Gourlay & Jackson 5-6 (bet365)
2pts Twist Evs (Betfred)
