ROBERT Paxton turned in a courageous display against the world number 15 Jonathan Ross in the second round of the World Bowls Tour International Open at Burgess Hill in Sussex yesterday.

In an event which has been notable for the success of PBA qualifiers, Paxton edged home, 4-8, 8-2, 2-1, and clinched a place in today's quarter finals, when he will face another unseeded player — Welsh hope Richard Morgan, or Worcestershire's Andrew Walters.

Having lost the first set to the consistent Irishman, Paxton hit back in the second, becoming more consistent, and playing some superb conversion shots.

The first seven ends of that second set yielded singles, but it was the 30-year-old postman from Exeter who led at that stage, 5-2, and he added a treble on the eighth end to take the set. Paxton controlled the first end of the tiebreak, forcing Ross to attack with his final delivery but, although he sent the jack out of bounds, Paxton took the shot when it was re-spotted.

Ross bounced back to win the second end after Paxton missed with two pressure drives, so everything depended on the sudden death last end — and it was Paxton who came up trumps with a beautifully drawn opening delivery.

Unusually, Ross nominated to kill the end with his second and third bowls – but he missed his target, and went through a narrow gap with his last delivery, leaving a delighted Paxton the winner.