AFTER returning from Jersey, where he lost out in a sudden death tie breaker in the semi-finals of the World Indoor Bowls Council World Singles Championship, Neil Smith competed at Dolphin, Poole in the Professional Bowls Players qualifiers for the 2014/15 season.

In the Superbowl event he won his second round match beating Mark Thomas (Rhondda) 1.5-0.5 (6-6, 6-4) but lost in round three to Leigh Prince (Adur, W Sussex) 0-2 (2-5, 2-8).

Smith also lost in the third round of the Scottish Open Qualifier.

He beat Arthur Thompson (Radnorshire) in round two 2-1 (6-4, 4-8, 2-1) but then lost out to William Jackson (Palmerston, Fareham, Hants) 0.5-1.5 (5-5, 3-8).

His daughter Katy Smith beat Joseph Mower (Islwyn, Gwent) in round two 2-0 (5-4, 7-4) but then went out in the next round to the eventual winner of the Scottish Open Qualifier Duncan Christie (Whiteknights, Reading) 0-2 (4-6, 1-10).

Neil Smith had a much better run in the third event at Poole - the International Open Qualifier.

He beat Carl Fountain (Dolphin) 2-1 (8-3, 7-8, 2-0) and followed that with a third round victory over Salisbury’s Nick Revell (Five Rivers) 2-1 (6-8, 6-5, 2-1).

In the quarter-finals Smith accounted for Welshman Roger Harvey (Islwyn) 2-0 (6-5, 8-2) but lost in the semi-finals to England junior international Connor Cinato (Desborough, Northamptonshire) who had won the Superbowl event on day one.

Smith lost 2-1 in a tie-breaker going down 1-7, 7-2, 0-2. Cinato lost in the final 2-0 to Welshman Damian Doubler (Cardiff) who had beaten Smith in the world semi-finals in Jersey.

Doubler had earlier beaten Katy Smith in the second round 2-0 (7-4, 9-5).

The attention now swings from the indoor bowls scene to the fresh air and the start of the 2014 outdoor bowls season.

Many of the local clubs will be hoping for good weather as they stage their traditional opening drives this weekend.