East Lothian’s world bowls icon Alex ‘Tattie’ Marshall’s hopes of landing a record-breaking fourth World Indoor Pairs title with former Garden County team-mate Paul Foster were thwarted at the final hurdle this week.

The 2011, 2012 and 2013 champions suffered defeat against the English duo of Simon Skelton and Robert Paxton in the final at Potters Leisure Resort in Norfolk on Monday afternoon.

The English pair defeated the Scots, appearing in their fifth successive final, 5-12, 15-5, 2-1.

It was the second successive year that Commonwealth Games gold medallists Foster and Marshall had lost in the World Indoor Pairs final.

World number one Foster and Marshall, ranked fourth, were in imperious form as they dominated the opening set. But the strong English pair – Paxton is the world number two and his partner 15th – never lost control of the second set after scoring a three in the opening end.

The Scots drew first blood on the opening end of the three-end tie break after Marshall played an inch-perfect bowl with the final bowl of the end.

But Skelton and Paxton hit back to claim the second end, then took the third end and the title, despite a magnificent effort from Marshall, to claim victory with the final bowl of the game.

Afterwards, Marshall said: “I was disappointed with the way I performed.

“If I could have played half the game that I know I can then things might have been different.

“Paul was different class in the match. He kept us in it and was outstanding.

“I had chances but I never took them. I found the centre line but I struggled to find the weight.” Meanwhile, Marshall’s involvement in the mixed pairs event was ended at the semi-final stage when, along with partner Julie Forrest, they were pipped on the finishing line in both sets against the Wales/England pairing of Marion Purcell and Robert Paxton.

Marshall’s next singles match was due to be staged yesterday (Thursday) evening when he tackled Australian qualifier Ben Twist.

The record five-time World Indoor Singles champion was pushed all the way by 19-year-old Welsh qualifier Liam Bouse in his first-round clash before eventually getting over the winning line 10-5, 5-8, 2-0 to book his second-round berth.

East Lothian’s world bowls icon Alex ‘Tattie’ Marshall’s hopes of landing a record-breaking fourth World Indoor Pairs title with former Garden County team-mate Paul Foster were thwarted at the final hurdle this week.

The 2011, 2012 and 2013 champions suffered defeat against the English duo of Simon Skelton and Robert Paxton in the final at Potters Leisure Resort in Norfolk on Monday afternoon.

The English pair defeated the Scots, appearing in their fifth successive final, 5-12, 15-5, 2-1.

It was the second successive year that Commonwealth Games gold medallists Foster and Marshall had lost in the World Indoor Pairs final.

World number one Foster and Marshall, ranked fourth, were in imperious form as they dominated the opening set. But the strong English pair – Paxton is the world number two and his partner 15th – never lost control of the second set after scoring a three in the opening end.

The Scots drew first blood on the opening end of the three-end tie break after Marshall played an inch-perfect bowl with the final bowl of the end.

But Skelton and Paxton hit back to claim the second end, then took the third end and the title, despite a magnificent effort from Marshall, to claim victory with the final bowl of the game.

Afterwards, Marshall said: “I was disappointed with the way I performed.

“If I could have played half the game that I know I can then things might have been different.

“Paul was different class in the match. He kept us in it and was outstanding.

“I had chances but I never took them. I found the centre line but I struggled to find the weight.” Meanwhile, Marshall’s involvement in the mixed pairs event was ended at the semi-final stage when, along with partner Julie Forrest, they were pipped on the finishing line in both sets against the Wales/England pairing of Marion Purcell and Robert Paxton.

Marshall’s next singles match was due to be staged yesterday (Thursday) evening when he tackled Australian qualifier Ben Twist.

The record five-time World Indoor Singles champion was pushed all the way by 19-year-old Welsh qualifier Liam Bouse in his first-round clash before eventually getting over the winning line 10-5, 5-8, 2-0 to book his second-round berth.