The Wraight stuff as Callum makes TV
Shropshire bowls ace Callum Wraight was taking his Waterloo Handicap campaign to the television screen today.
Wraight moved into today's last 16 – the round in which live television coverage gets under way on ITV4 – with a superb victory over Gary Ellis from the Whitefield club in Manchester.
The Castlefields star was in control throughout, playing up to the middle of the green and steaming into a 14-5 lead.
That became 18-8 and Wraight, urging his woods to the jack in front of a big crowd, then applied the coup de grace on the famous green to take the tie 21-8.
It was an excellent performance and one that came hot on the heels of a 21-15 success in the previous round against one of his main rivals, Greg Smith.
But while Wraight has ended the hopes of both Ellis and Smith, plenty of top-calibre opposition remains in the hunt.
Glynn Cookson is still there after producing the perfect final bowl to take out Mike Leach 21-20 while Graeme 'GI' Wilson did likewise with a superb last-gasp takeout to beat Noel Burrows on the final wood.
One of the tournament favourites, Preston's Simon Coupe, was in outstanding form and was squaring up to Terry Glover today.
"Terry is a very good player so I'm under no illusion it will be a hard game," said Coupe. "He has beaten me the last two times we have played. Mind you, he has never beaten me on here!"
