Oxfordshire's Les Gillett saw his hopes of a second successive Potters Leisure Resort World Indoor Bowls Pairs title blown away by super Scot Graham Robertson in the quarter-finals on the Norfolk coast.

Gillett and Brighton's Mark McMahon fell victim to a devastating display by Robertson, who teamed up with Greg Harlow (City of Ely) after Robertson's scheduled partner, three-times World Singles winner Richard Corsie withdrew from the tournament at just 24 hours' notice.

Robertson, a 44-year-old father of six, produced an awesome performance.

Gillett was soon reeling under an amazing onslaught as Robertson drew wood after wood to within inches of the jack.

Robertson and Harlow charged 4-0 ahead in the first set and although the title-holders clawed back a double at the next end, Robertson was soon back in the groove, pounding the England stars for a 10-2 first-set win.

The players were all square at 1-1 in the second set, then Robertson returned to his deadly work, rolling home a single, a double, a treble and a single to go 8-1 ahead and adding a single two ends later for a 9-2 triumph.

After the match, Gillett, the 31-year-old English champion from Chipping Norton, said: "Graham was absolutely brilliant. He put me under constant pressure and when someone plays with that kind of accuracy, you are really under the cosh.

"After my clashes with Graham, Mark was virtually left with nothing. He could only chase the shots and that was a difficult task, especially with Greg also in red-hot form."

Les Gillett ended the 2001-2002 season No 15 in the HJ Hall world rankings, which were issued following the final event of the season, the World Indoor Singles Championships, in which Gillett suffered an early exit.

Banbury's Greg Moon, who like Gillett bowed out in the second round, finished the season ranked joint 42nd.

Scotland's David Gourlay retains the No 1 spot, with new world champion Tony Allcock moving back into the top 16 at No 8.