The Boss crashes out in Zuiderduin semis

Dec 19 2012 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

Greenhills thrower Ross ‘The Boss’ Montgomery admits his ‘Achilles heel’ is to blame for his semi-final defeat at the Zuiderduin Masters last week.

The 50-year-old lost to Alan Norris by three sets to nil in the last four after a succession of missed doubles at the Dutch event, billed as the big warm-up for next month’s Lakeside World Championships.

And after watching his hopes of a second Zuiderduin title disappear, the handyman was left cursing those missed doubles once again.

He told the News: “The doubles are a major problem for me right now – no matter how hard I seem to work at them.

“It’s something I need to look at before the Lakeside and see how I can change things and improve.

“They have always been my Achilles heel and that’s what let Alan in during the semi-final.

“I was scoring well in the semis – hitting 155 and 157 checkouts – but when it came to the doubles they just wouldn’t go in and that’s very annoying when you’re up at the oche putting yourself into a position to take legs and sets.

“But I’ve won championships before so I know I can do it and I’ll putting in as much work as I can on them over the next few weeks.”

Ross topped his group in Holland after beating John ‘Boy’ Walton 5-3 in the opening game and defeating fourth seed Steve Douglas 5-4 in the final group game.

In the quarter-finals, the Boss negotiated a tricky tie with Dutchman Jeffrey de Graaf, winning 3-2, before coming unstuck in the semis against Norris.

Norris went on to finish as runner-up after Stephen Bunting powered his way to a 5-0 victory in the final.

Now all that remains before the Lakeside is for Ross to brush up on his skills at his usual practice venue, the Calderwood Inn.

He added: “I’ve got some thinking to do between now and the Lakeside about the doubles and I’ll make sure there’s plenty of practice sessions between now and then.

“But I’m going to enjoy Christmas with the family first and then turn my attention to the Lakeside.

“I don’t play until Monday, January 7 this time around so that gives me a bit of extra time to prepare.”