HEREFORDSHIRE'S Rob Weale moved up to number five in the World Bowls Tour order of merit after reaching the semi-finals of the HJ Hall Welsh Masters, the last event of this year's indoor ranking series

The Wales international and former world indoor champion went out to David Gourlay, another former world champion, in the first extra end of an exciting tie-break at Llanelli.

Weale won the first set 9-7 and Gourlay forced a tie-break by winning the second 8-3.

They were locked at 1-1 after the two-end play-off and went into a sudden death third end. Weale lost the toss and was invited to send down the first wood. His aim was sure and he drew a toucher with the first wood, only for Gourlay to play the second wood with a little bit of weight to take the jack and his touching bowl into the ditch.

Faced with an almost impossible task, Weale actually managed to force his opening touching ball into the ditch but could not better Gourlay's counting shot.

Summing up his indoor season, Weale said: "Although I have not won a ranking event, I've played some of the best bowls of my life in the last couple of months.

"I lost in the third round of this year's World Championships and reached the quarter-final of the International Open. This has lifted my ranking up two places to fifth position and I am looking forward to next year's World Indoor circuit."

With the coming outdoor season relatively quiet in terms of top-class events, Weale will be looking towards the Home International Series in July, when he will represent Wales in three events and team up with fellow Herefordian Gareth Wills in the pairs.