Media Release: Wednesday, February 21, 2007

UK RAIDERS SIZZLE AT AUSSIE OPEN

English raiders Matthew Marchant and world number one Greg Harlow cruised to victory in the ABN AMRO Australian Open men’s pairs final over Victorian young gun Barrie Lester and Australian representative Wayne Turley in Melbourne this afternoon.

The UK’s dynamic duo will tonight feast on champagne and take-away – known as ‘fizz and chips’ back home – after claiming a 6-5, 9-2 victory in front of a big crowd.

And in the women’s singles quarter-finals schoolgirl sensation Samantha Warren continued her fairytale run with yet another giant-killing performance over Kiwi international Jan Khan to move into tomorrow's (22-2) semi-final.

Harlow, the world’s premier indoor player, made the transition to the outdoor greens look simple in a dominant display in the final.

He followed up Marchant’s solid lead work to ensure the pairs title and $4000 cheque was part of his return luggage.

“First trip to Australia, first trip to Melbourne and a win at our first tournament together,” Harlow said.

“It’s a real buzz to know I can match it with the best in the game on outdoor greens.

“The first set was really, really tight but we kept coming up with the answers and they had to change their tactics. That worked for us in the first set and the second was a dream.”

Marchant was counting his lucky stars after landing Harlow as a partner on the eve of the event.

“It’s great to play with a guy that thinks about the game and plans every bowl, he was brilliant,” Marchant said.

Lester, last year’s runner-up in the same event, and Turley agreed the best team won.

“We played some really solid stuff and Barrie played well but everything they tried worked and they deserved the win,” Turley said.

Earlier in the day seventeen-year-old Warren moved into the last four with a stunning 9-6, 11-1 victory over Khan.

The stylish 17-year-old, from Lara, near Geelong, added Khan to an already impressive list of Kiwi victims that includes event fifth seed Val Smith and her compatriot, reigning world pairs champion Sharon Sims.

Warren fought through a tough opening set before cruising through the second and into a semi-final showdown with top seed Siti Zalina Ahmad of Malaysia.

“I’m loving it, I can’t stop smiling,” Warren said.

“It’s hot out there but it’s been a great week and a great experience, I am having a ball.”

Proud mother Andrea said her daughter was a cool customer on the green.

“They say she has a poker face, nothing seems to faze her out there,” Mrs Warren said.

”She’s playing so well and her form is just amazing. The most important thing though is that she’s having fun.”

Joining Warren and Ahmad in the final four of the $100,000 tournament’s semi-final phase are talented Kiwi Jo Edwards and Scotland-born Sydneysider Anne Watson.

The women’s semi-finals will be played tomorrow (22-2) with Ahmad and Warren in action from 10.00am before Edwards meets Watson at 1.00pm.

Meanwhile, in the men’s singles No.1 seed Kelvin Kerkow crashed out of the event, losing to Tasmanian Jarrod Howard in straight sets 7-7, 9-1.

World singles champion Steve Glasson sent out a clear warning to the rest of the field when he beat talented Tasmanian Mark Nitz 7-6, 12-1 in a Round 4 encounter.