ALEX Marshall believes silver at the World Championships can spur Scotland on to go one better next week.

The Tranent bowler was part of the Scottish triples team that lost out to hosts Australia yesterday (Saturday).

However, the championships are not over just yet for Marshall, Derek Oliver, of Port Seton; and former East Lothian bowler Paul Foster, who will be joined by Jason Banks in the men’s fours.

The competition gets under way tomorrow (Monday), with Scotland drawn in a group alongside Argentina, England, Samoa, France, Hong Kong China, Thailand and Canada.

READ MORE: Bowls: Scotland going for World Championships gold against Australia

Speaking after defeat to Australia, in an interview on Bowls Scotland’s social media, Marshall said: “I thought we all played really good from the very start in the group stages.

“It was not our best performance today but the conditions were very hard.

“Winning any medal in any World Championships is very pleasing.

“As Paul touched on, it is not the colour we are looking for but to win a silver medal at any World Championships is very pleasing.

“It does put us in a good performance looking forward to next week.

“It gives us a little bit of confidence and we will take that and see how we go for next week.”

 

 

Marshall, Oliver and Foster had come through the group phase undefeated and carried that into the knockout stage of the competition.

A quarter-final victory over Thailand set up a semi-final showdown with reigning champions England.

An impressive 23-13 win put them through to the final but a solid start from Australia put them on the front foot as they won 19-6.

Marshall said the support from Scotland was much appreciated as they tried to add to their medal tally.

He said: “I would just like to thank everybody – all the messages on Facebook, family, friends – it is always very appreciated to get all the support from all the Scottish people back home.

“Thanks very much.”