Lothian trio blaze a trial but it's heartbreak for Hanlan

THREE of Scotland's top bowlers – Willie Wood, Alex Marshall and Paul Foster – all from the Meadowmill Stadium in East Lothian, were flying high at the Potters Leisure Resort near Great Yarmouth after launching their world singles and pairs campaigns with dazzling performances.
First to wow the Norfolk audience was Wood, who, at 71, showed that he's still got what it takes to mix it with players of a younger generation and compete at the business end in a sport where age is no barrier to the quality of performance.

Yesterday,the Gifford legend, who is one of seven players in the frame for a place in Scotland's six-strong Commonwealth Games team who will head to Delhi later this year and could potentially be flying the flag for an amazing record extending eighth Games, was at his brilliant best against top South African Theuns Fraser, leading all the way to ease through 10-2, 8-4.

After victory, he smiled and said: "I didn't put a foot wrong. I found the weight of the green immediately and nailed the jack with my first bowl nearly every end.

"My first bowl was the key to the game and boosted my confidence.

"I was quietly content with my form and couldn't have played much better."

Foster and Marshall also showcased their talents, with Foster in particular maintaining the high standards that he strives for and setting the tone of the match with a procession of inch-perfect deliveries.

Foster too is keeping his fingers crossed for Commonwealth selection and is favourite to take the singles berth, while Marshall, who has won the pairs title for the last two Games with George Sneddon at Manchester and then best friend Foster in Melbourne four years ago, has already ruled himself out of the Delhi date, withdrawing from the eight-man squad just last month, sighting work commitments.

However, yesterday, they both did what they do best and played at the top of their form to end the hopes of Canadian qualifiers Fred Fong and Hirendra Bhartu 10-3, 7-4.

And while the result looked comprehensive on paper, the East Lothian duo had to call on all of their experience to seal their victory with opposition skip Bhartu playing the game of his life with a succession of telling draw shots that kept the spectators on the edge of their seats.

A delighted Foster admitted: "What a brilliant game that was. The score doesn't even begin to tell the story of the game.

"Alex and I both played well, but so did the Canadians. They really pushed us. I don't think there was a bowl more than 18 inches away from the jack in the whole match.

"I was exceptionally happy with my game and only failed on one end to leave Alex with the shot against him when he went to play. However, it wasn't long before he put his mark on the game."

Foster and Marshall will back in action later today when the quarter-finals come under the hammer. They won't line up until the last match tonight when they meet their old rivals Ian Bond and Anglo Scot Andy Thomson who won the title in 2008, and who beat the East Lothian duo 2-0 way back in their only head to head in 2004.

Midlothian 'wild card' winner Jamie Hanlan, 18, saw his singles title hopes come to a disappointing end. Making his debut on the world stage, he will no doubt be kicking himself after losing 10-1, 7-7 to 54-year-old Cardiff bowler Phil Rowlands.

He made a slow start in the first set, losing 10-1 but turned that around in the second and looked poised to take the match to a tie break decider when he held a 7-4 lead going into the last end. However, fate played it's hand and the Welshman counted the vital three shots to square the set at 7-7 that took him through to the second round by one and a half sets to a half.

Wood returns on Monday night when he takes on Jonathan Ross from Belfast who is seeded 16.