Alison Merrien fails to defend bowls titles

Merrien received an MBE in the 2012 New Year Honours

Guernsey's bowls player Alison Merrien has failed in her bid to defend her Ladies World Matchplay Singles Title at Potters, in Norfolk.

Merrien was beaten in the semi-finals by England's Debbie Stavrou 9-3, 9-8.

Stavrou won back-to-back singles titles in 2009 and 2010 defeating Merrien on tie-break in the final both times.

Earlier this week Stavrou and her partner David Gourlay knocked defending champions Merrien and Simon Skelton out in the mixed pairs semi-finals.

Stavrou and Gourlay went on to win the final on Tuesday.