Paul Foster and Alex Marshall produced the first Bowls medal for Scotland since the Melbourne Games after a truly dominant performance over Malaysia in the Pairs final at Kelvingrove.

The World Champions won Team Scotland’s 12th Gold of the Glasgow Games, beating the previous best of 11 Golds set at Melbourne in 2006, after overcoming their opponents 20-3, with three ends to spare.

“I’ve won two Golds before at the Commonwealth Games, but this one tops the lot,” said Marshall. “Playing in your own back yard in Scotland in front of your own fans, you just can’t beat it. It’s simply the best.”

Paying tribute to Foster, his close friend and partner, Marshall continued: “We got off to a good start and Paul was phenomenal from start to finish, which made my job a lot easier. This is definitely the highlight of my career and Team Scotland has broken another record there, I think. That’s the twelfth Gold medal they have earned.”

Where Marshall delivered the two decisive bowls in yesterday’s electric semi-final against England, today was the turn of Foster as Lead, to pull out all the stops.

“Paul in the first ten ends was relentless and I’ve never seen an exhibition for ten ends with anybody leading and that’s what won us the end today,” added Marshall.

Foster, who won a Commonwealth Pairs Gold in Melbourne with Marshall eight years ago, believes today’s achievement eclipses anything he has achieved so far. “I didn’t think anything would ever beat 2006, when I won the Gold with Alex in the Pairs,” he said. But this tops everything. To win a Gold medal on your home soil is phenomenal. It’s a feeling that will live with me for the rest of my life.”

Marshall and Foster returned to the green after their medal-winning performance, joining David Peacock and Neil Speirs for the Men’s Fours. The team took victory over Kenya by 16-10.

Team Scotland’s remaining matches all resulted in convincing wins for the home team. Women’s Triples, Claire Johnston, Lauren Baillie and Margret Letham, won against Papua New Guinea by 22-8, Para-Sport B6/B7/B8 Triples, Billy Allan, Kevin Wallace and Michael Simpson rode out 25-6 winners over Malaysia and the Women’s Pairs duo of Caroline Brown and Lorraine Malloy beat Samoa 25-9.

All four teams return to action tomorrow, along with Darren Burnett in the Men’s Singles.

Photo Credit:Rob Hardie