SOMERSET bowls star Robert Paxton claimed his second mixed pairs title at the World Indoor Bowls Championships, after he and partner Ellen Falkner bounced back from being trounced in the first set to win on a tie-break against Helen Carman and Nick Brett, writes Dominic Picksley.

New Zealander Carman and Huntingdon’s Brett were outstanding in the first set, powering away from the all-English pair as Falkner and Paxton struggled to find their way on the portable blue rink, as it finished 15-1.

But the second set was an altogether different beast, with Carman losing her way and Falkner reproducing the sort of form that has seen her win three ladies singles at Potters, while Paxton got back in to the groove, obviously buoyed by his lead finding her way at last.

They duly breezed through to a second-set success (10-3), and the momentum followed on to the tie-break, where Paxton enjoyed a slice of luck to win the first end and they wrapped up the match on the following end to claim a first Mixed Pairs title together.

Paxton, who now has three pairs titles on his CV, said afterwards: “It’s great to come through.

“Tie-breaks are nip and tuck, a lot do come down to fortunate contacts and it went our way today.”