Fakenham's Mervyn King saw his dream of regaining the World Pairs title won in 2005 with Australian Kelvin Kerkow end at Potters yesterday, but promptly insisted he was still on course for a successful defence of his singles crown starting next week.

Fakenham's Mervyn King saw his dream of regaining the World Pairs title won in 2005 with Australian Kelvin Kerkow end at Potters yesterday, but promptly insisted he was still on course for a successful defence of his singles crown starting next week.

King and Kerkow, seeded six, were beaten 7-6, 9-3 by Welsh duo Robert Weale and Jason Greenslade in a match of the highest quality, with Greenslade in particular in superb form at the front for the number three seeds.

The former champions trailed 6-2 after six ends of the first set before a count of three shots saw them reduce the deficit to 6-5.

The two sides then traded shots over the final two ends, which was enough to give Weale and Greenslade an important advantage.

In the second set the Welsh wizards, runners-up here in 2003, raced into an 8-0 lead after five ends and the gap proved too wide for King and Kerkow to plug, losing with eight of the regulation nine ends played.

King was gracious in defeat, saying: “While we are disappointed that is because we lost not because we played badly.

“We actually played well, but came up against a better pair on the day.

“Jason in particular was awesome at times, while on the odd occasion he wasn't in, Robert was counting.

“Sometimes I had two bowls within a foot of the jack, but they still lay two shots which tells its own story.

“I think they will take some beating on that display.”

Looking forward to his last-32 clash against Ely's Mark Smith in the World Singles on Tuesday, King revealed: “I will return here on Monday to prepare for that.

“I have to be happy with the way I am playing and you must remember that at this level in pairs you will get different results between the top partnerships almost every time they meet.

“So I am anything but downhearted.”

Weale and Greenslade will now take on Scots qualifiers Neil Speirs and Wayne Hogg, who last night continued their giant-killing exploits by seeing off the challenge of number two seeds Greg Harlow of Ely and Jonathan Ross of Belfast 6- 5, 5-5.

A superb driving shot from skip Speirs ditched the white and secured their last four spot with his final delivery.

Veteran Londoner Andy Thomson and 'Devon Destroyer' Ian Bond, seeded four, emerged 8-6, 6-5 winners over Lincoln's English qualifiers Danny Brown and James Heath, setting up a last-four clash this afternoon with defending champions David Gourlay and Billy Jackson,

Thomson conceded: “We were behind until counting seven shots over the last three ends of the first set to gain the initiative, but it was always close as Danny and James dug in throughout.”

Number one seeds Gourlay and Jackson, from Australia and Lincoln, survived a scare to edge out Welsh veterans John Price and Steve Rees 11-0, 4-8, 2-1 after a match tie-breaker, with skip Gourlay admitting: “We were a touch fortunate at the finish to go through.”