Bowls: East Lothian ace Alex Marshall keeps alive his hopes of a sixth world title

THE Scottish challenge in the World Singles Bowls Championship in Norfolk received a three-man boost with Alex Marshall, Darren Burnett and Stewart Anderson joining Paul Foster and David Anderson in next week's last 16.

East Lothian's Marshall began his tilt at a record-extending sixth title but the anticipated sparks against local challenger Tim Stone failed to fly as Marshall contained his opponent, which in turn kept the partisan crowd in check, and won 10-6, 7-3.

"I usually struggle a bit in my opening match but I felt very comfortable and confident out there.

"I've been scratching around for most of the season so I was more than happy with the way I played," said the 42-year-old.

"That has given me a boost and. looking ahead, there's no reason why I can't win a sixth title if I play like that.

"I got off to a good start and that made a big difference but I know I've got a difficult hurdle in my next game on Tuesday against Auchinleck's Stewart Anderson.

"He's a fantastic prospect for the future and is the form guy in Scotland just now, although I can't say that I know much about his play. I just know that he's been picking up a lot of titles."

Earlier in the day, 24-year-old Anderson scored a treble on the last end of the first set and then charged home in the second to beat No.15 seed Mark McMahon from Australia 8-6, 11-5.

Hopes of an all-East Lothian final are also high with Paul Foster, in the opposite half of the draw from Marshall. Foster, too, will face an all-Scottish clash with Arbroath policeman Darren Burnett on Monday.

After the first three ends of his match against No.13 seed Les Gillett from Loughborough, Burnett found his range and was rarely troubled in the remainder of the match, easing through 11-2, 8-3. City of Ely's Greg Harlow, seeded five, beat Phil Rowlands from Wales 7-2, 8-7.

The ladies Matchplay world singles and the World Mixed Pairs championships dominate the schedule for the next three days with the pairs final scheduled for Sunday.

Paul Foster was set to partner Debbie Stavrou today against Welsh duo Jason Greenslade and Kerry Packwood while Marshall partners Midlothian's Carol Ashby – formerly from Eastbourne in Sussex – tomorrow against English pair Greg Harlow and Sarah Seymour.