Gillet off the pace at Bwin.com Super8series bowls in Bristol

Former Cheltenham star Les Gillett, who now plays out of Melton Mowbray and is ranked 13th in the world, was disappointed to finish down the order yesterday in the latest bwin.com bowls tournament in Bristol.

Gillett, who lost to world number five David Gourlay and world number 26 Graham Smith had the consolation of beating Welsh hope Richard Morgan, but it was Gourlay and Smith who contested the final play-off.

Curiously, the pattern that has emerged from this event continued yesterday, as Smith, who had lost to Gourlay in the round robin, turned the tables in the play-off, beating the talented Scot, 2-9, 6-5, 2-1.

Having lost the first set heavily, Smith earned the right to contest a tiebreak, but looked on his way out when, after losing the first end, fired in desperation with his last bowl on the second end. Incredibly, the jack bounced back up the rink, giving Smith the shot, and handing him a lifeline – and he gratefully mopped things up by winning the sudden death third end.

"That was a lucky strike, but that's bowls," said Gourlay. "Graham was unlucky a few times through the match, and deserved to win."

Bwin.com Super8series at Bristol round robin: Richard Morgan bt Graham Smith 4-5, 12-5, 2-0; David Gourlay bt Les Gillett 5-4, 8-3; Smith bt Gillett 8-5, 10-8; Gourlay bt Morgan 7-4, 9-5; Gourlay bt Smith 6-5, 6-5; Gillett bt Morgan 6-6, 6-2. Final group standings: 1 Gourlay; 2 Smith; 3 Morgan; 4 Gillett. Final play-off: Smith bt Gourlay 2-9, 6-5, 2-1.