Six-time World Indoor Singles champion Alex Marshall was philosophical in defeat as he crashed out of the blue riband event to Englishman Les Gillett at the second-round stage of the Just 2017 World Professional Championships.
Read More‘Tattie’, aiming for a record seventh crown, couldn’t quite find his very best form against the Leicestershire ace, slipping quietly out of the tournament following a 4-6 6-8 defeat, his second loss against Gillett at Potters this year, following his and Paul Foster’s defeat to ‘Razor’ and Jason Greenslade in the pairs event.
“It was hard work out there as Les was superb,” admitted Marshall. “I have never seen Les play like that before. He was deadly! I thought I played okay, although I played too many loose ends and wasn’t consistent enough. But it’s only a game of bowls”. Tranent star Marshall had dispatched Welsh qualifier Robert Chisholm in the previous round with consummate ease, but found No.15 seed Gillett a much tougher nut to crack. Marshall lost the first set 6-4, but despite an early lead in the second, he soon found himself behind again. A two-shot deficit after four ends became four after the seventh, but a treble gave Marshall a glimmer of hope, but brilliant Gillett soon closed the door on the soon-to-be 50-year-old and clinched the match by picking up a single to clinch a straight-sets victory. Far from being down after defeat, Marshall insisted he would return in 12 months’ time, determined to add another title to his packed CV. “I’ll be back,” he added. “I still feel I have been playing my best bowls in the last few years. I may be 50 in a few days, but it is just a number to me. If you’re still playing well and feeling okay, you can still carry on”.
Meanwhile, Joe Mower’s hopes of retaining the World Indoor Under 25 Singles title were thwarted when he lost his semi-final tie against English qualifier Martin Puckett. The opening set was a tentative affair with both players failed to find their best form on the portable rink. After 6 ends the scoreline read 4-4 but then Puckett took a firm grip on the set by taking 5 shots over the next three ends to take it 9-4. In the second set both players seemed to settle and the quality of play improved dramatically and again after 6 ends played it was 4-4. Puckett took a single on the 7th end before Welshman Mower fought back to take a single on the next end. In the final end of the set Puckett produced a terrific last bowl delivery to take the set and match.
The senior side from East Lothian IBC had a chance to avenge the surprise defeat inflicted upon them by East Fife in the Scottish Senior League quarter-final when they met them again on Wednesday at Headwell IBC in the preliminary round of the Scottish Senior Cup. Meanwhile, the qualifying action in the Jock Brodie Senior Challenge Cup, sponsored by Norman T Craig and Co-operative Funeralcare, continued at the Alex Marshall Arena last Wednesday saw Midlothian produce a late surge to inflict 6-2 misery on Berwickshire. The other match was between Teviotdale and Bainfield and a close affair ended with both teams settling for a 4-4 draw. There is no action at the Alex Marshall Arena this coming Wednesday due to the Scottish Senior Cup action being staged around the country.
It has confirmed East Lothian will tackle A section winners Falkirk in the Scottish Premier League playoff final on Saturday February 25 at Turriff IBC.
A side from East Lothian are in Scottish Under 35 Cup quarter-final action this coming Sunday when they make the long trek to Arbroath IBC to tackle Buchan/Garioch. The following side has been announced: – D.Hoggan, C.Mackintosh, R.Thomson, G.Blair skip A.Martin, L.Betts, G.Pryde, S.Thomson skip K.Cunningham, M.Osborne, C.Darling, J.Mower skip M.Kivlin, C.Brock, C.Fallen, D.Riva skip
A side from East Lothian progressed through to the next round of the Headwell Mixed Team Championship following an excellent 8-2 points win over the host club in last Sunday’s first round action. Wins on the rinks skipped by Janet Fairnie (+28), Tommy Young (+23) and John McCrorie (+4) carried the day for the garden county and easily covered the narrow defeat sustained by Dougie Berwick (-2).
The East Lothian IBC banner will be paraded in the showpiece climax to the SYIBA National Triples finals at Aberdeen IBC on Sunday March 12 with the garden county young trio of David Young, Megan Kivlin and Craig Mackintosh winning through from their tough playdown section at Alloa IBC last Sunday. Not such good news in the Pairs playdown action as the partnership of Cameron Shaw and Lewis Betts missed out on qualification. Meanwhile the youth section has a very busy weekend coming up with competitive games on both Saturday and Sunday. Paisley are the visitors to the Alex Marshall Arena on Saturday for a first round Scottish Top 10 clash that commences at 2pm then on Sunday two garden county sides head to Dunfermline to compete in the Abbeyview IBC Top Five tournament.
East Lothian IBC is set to welcome a galaxy of top stars to the Alex Marshall Arena on Sunday February 19 with Glasgow 2014 gold medal heroes Alex Marshall MBE and Darren Burnett heading up a great Who’s Who of national indoor bowling giants. Other big name players competing in the inaugural Pro-Am Triples event include former World Indoor Singles champion Stewart Anderson, Midlothian stars Ronnie Duncan and Colin Walker, host club internationalists Derek Oliver, Jamie Higgins and Scott Kennedy along with garden county legend Willie Wood MBE. “The shape and make-up of the competing triples suggests that we can look forward to cracking days bowling and for us all at East Lothian IBC it is an exciting prospect”, said tournament organiser Billy Mellors. The tournament is kindly being sponsored by Medical Professional and Johnston Fuels.
Tranent Bowling Club have announced that their AGM will be staged on Sunday February 12 at the now later time of 3pm in their Polson Park clubhouse. All members are requested to attend meeting.
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