Flu-ridden Marshall exits World Indoors

It was a bitterly disappointed Alex Marshall who crashed out of the World Indoor Bowls Championships at Potters last night, beaten in the first round not just by his 29-year-old opponent Andrew Kelly from New Zealand but by a suspected flu virus.

Looking to take the coveted title for a record extending seventh time, Marshall started his campaign well but over the early exchanges looked out of sorts and despite rallying briefly towards the end of the first set, where he scored three successive single, he missed out 6-5.

In the second set it was obvious that there was something amiss, with the Scot under the weather and struggling to show any form. The result was put beyond his reach at 10-2 with two ends left to play.

After the match Marshall spoke only briefly, saying: “Initially I rolled up well in the warm up then when the match started I just felt dreadful and felt overly warm and as though everything was caving in on me.

“I’ve had a bit of a cold for a few days but felt OK before I played my match but after a few ends I just felt drained and unwell.”

Kelly, a mechanical engineer from Christchurch, said “It wasn’t the way I wanted to win. I know I played well but there was something clearly up with Alex. However, I am happy to have made it through to the next round.”

Blantyre’s Stewart Anderson, the 2013 champion, begins his campaign today against English qualifier Perry Martin.