Bowls: Triple champ Marshall is up and running for Tait Trophy

Published on Tuesday 2 August 2011 13:54

The Tait Trophy - sponsored by Broughton Properties and Kelly Joiners - has swung into its preliminary-round action with Slateford star Robert Marshall bidding to etch his name on the famous E&L Champion of Champions Silverware for a fourth time.

Marshall - who won the Tait in 1982, 1998 and 2008 - opened his latest campaign against Brian Davies of Colinton with a commanding 21-9 victory having showed early authority to lead 8-0.

Leith champion Robert Wood hit top form to cause a surprise with his 21-10 win over the freshly crowned national Fours champion Richard Tough of Carrick Knowe while another prominent name in Malcolm Weir of Whitehouse & Grange lost 21-13 to Grant Pagan of West End.

Brian Duffus of Tramways finished 2, 1, 1 to clinch a 21-13 win over George Langlands of Brunstane while Keith Taylor of Summerside dealt a 21-16 exit to Kevin McNab of Dean, and Graham McAdam of Juniper Green beat John Rutheford of Lutton Place, 21-9.

Other results: Frank Walsh (Mayfield) 21, David McKenzie (Stenhouse) 8; Joe Blair (Corstorphine) 21, Brian Hardie (Trinity) 8; Dean Thomson (Gorgie Mills) 21, Sean Alexander (Colinton Mains) 3; Colin Cochrane (Merchiston) 21, James McNiven (Coltbridge) 13; Craig Paterson (Bainfield) 21, Jim White (Balerno) 10.

Christian Berra will carry the Postal banner into the Tait Trophy having played a blinder to beat 2009 champion Elliot Young, 21-17 in last night's final of the club singles championship.

Berra, the father of former Hearts football star Christophe - now with Wolves - was ahead 14-8 then answered pressure at 17-14 down to hit 21 with storming 1, 3, 2, 1 finish. The newly crowned champion enters the Tait Trophy action on Friday night when he tackles BJ Smith of Hillside at Willowbrae.

&#149 FIVE seeds have departed the scene after two rounds of the Scotmid sponsored West Lothian Masters with Mark Allison the No.?10 from Broxburn the first to go in the first round.

Last night's second round saw record three-times winner John Aitken of Kirkliston make a shock 21-16 exit to Eddie Ritchie of Pumpherston and the No.?3 seed was joined by another Scottish Singles champion in Raymond Logan (Kirkliston) the No.?9 who lost 21-18 to Glenn King of Bankton Mains.

The other seeds to fall were Bryan Cooper, the No.?11, from Bathgate and Graeme Byrne the No.16 from Linlithgow.