COUNTY bowls ace Alex 'Tattie' Marshall was beaten at the semi-final stage in his quest to defend his World Indoor Bowls Singles title.

The six-time champion went into the last four match with Robert Paxton as the title holder, but he was unable to overcome the Englishman.

Marshall, from Tranent, claimed the first set, but Paxton produced a superb performance to win the second set.

And with both players at the top of their game, a final end shoot-out was required to decide the winner, with Paxton edging it to win 3-12, 7-4, 2-1 at Potters Resort in Norfolk.

He then faced fellow Englishman Nick Brett in the final, and it was Brett who came out on top, winning 9-9, 12-9.

Brett's success is his first World Indoor Singles title, to go with the pairs world title he won in 2014 alongside Greg Harlow.