So disappointed was Harlow with his display that he actually apologised to the large crowd at the Selwyn Samuel Stadium, as well as praising his opponent's scintillating performance: “That was certainly the best performance of the week. He never gave me an inch and thoroughly deserved his win – I got what I deserved,” he said.
Harlow's controlled aggression, combined with subtle drawing bowls when necessary, had paid handsome dividends during his morning semi-final victory over Scotland's world number one Paul Foster, but during the opening set in the final he struggled with his weight and direction, and within five ends Gourlay, beaten finalist 12 months ago, was virtually home and dry with an 8-0 lead.
The clash between the two most successful players in terms of WBT final appearances – it was Harlow's tenth and Gourlay's 15th – certainly never lived up to expectations, as Gourlay continued to apply the pressure with his opening bowls, while Harlow, for some inexplicable reason, could not find his weight and line.
He scrambled a few shots in the second set, but Gourlay always held the upperhand, and two perfectly drawn bowls on the eighth end when 6-4 ahead only served to emphasise the difference between the players on the day. Gourlay had maintained his momentum from his 9-4, 3-7, 2-0 morning semi-final defeat of England's Mervyn King in which both players produced some bowls out of the top draw in a match that many felt was perhaps the best of the week, while Harlow had a real Jekyll and Hyde day, brilliant against Foster in his 9-4, 9-4 semi-final success, but a pale shadow of himself a couple of hours later.
While Gourlay can head off on holiday having finally ended his long wait for another WBT title, Harlow has at least the consolation of starting next season as the new world number one as a result of his victory over Foster.
