Superb Balbardie back in championship frame

Dec 11 2008 by Our Correspondent, West Lothian Courier

BALBARDIE IBC ladies are the team of the week thanks to a magnificent 82-74 victory over the previously undefeated Falkirk in the E section of the Scottish League Cup.

Falkirk had the advantage of playing on their home carpet but it was Balbardie that stole the show as they dictated the pace

This was a tremendous feat for the visitors who produced an exciting team performance but were best served by winning contributions from the rinks skipped by Margo Duff and Liz Boyle.

It was never easy for a Balbardie team that was prepared to battle and battle they did to bravely edge the first seven-end phase 26-25 then boldly capture the second 33-25 before battening down the hatches to restrict Falkirk to a miniscule 24-23 revival.

The result still leaves Falkirk leading the table and indeed favourites to go on and win the qualifying honours however Balbardie are just two points off the pace and that gives them a glimmer of hope for the three-match run in.

The eye-catching performance of the match was delivered by Margo Duff who skipped Doreen Reeder Ally Blagg and Pat Purdie to a fabulous 35-10 win over Maureen Leishman.

The highlights were many but the chief one came with the carding of two mighty fives in succession to stand 24-5 up after 13-ends.

Liz Boyle skipped Morven Shearer Margaret Taylor and Marion Halliday into a 12-4 lead after 12-ends then handled late pressure well enough to deliver a 16-14 win over Pat Johnston.

Things turned bleak for the rink of Kim Ross Agnes Thomas Marian Coats and Sharon Leitch when they lost a 5 to trail 24-13 but damage limitation was achieved by a 2, 1, 1, finish to lose 24-17 to Vikki Leishman.

Lorraine Malloy and her rink of Catherine Lochran Margaret Scally and Sadie McKenzie lost a 6 to trail 12-4 early doors and long uphill struggle saw them suffer a 26-14 defeat from Jane Brooksby.

West Lothian IBC were a bit under strength for their visit to foot of the table Cumbernauld and sustained a disappointing 81-72 defeat that leaves them on the second bottom rung.

West Lothian continued the revival that will lead to their survival in the B section of the indoor bowls Premier League with a comfortable 21 shot victory (80-59) over Aberdeen at Livingston.

Two wins on the trot has boosted the West Lothian points total to six and that lifts them four clear of East Fife and two clear of Arbroath while a superior shot margin bank places them ahead of Aberdeen to sit in third place.

The absence of George Sneddon, in Hong Kong, paved the way for the return of Mark Allison, back from the USA, and the former Fifer contributed a winning performance matched by the rinks skipped by Graeme Archer and Neil Speirs.

The defeat of Thomas Mann means that the West Lothian machine still isn't firing on all cylinders however the earlier depression has certainly lifted.

Aberdeen had won the earlier clash up North and they showed flashes of that form to share the first seven-end phase 28-28 and the third 17-17 however West Lothian tipped the match scales with a 35-14 domination of the second.

Archer was the dominant figure for the home side and he brought out the best from his young front three of Ewan Wilson, Kenny Black, and Calum Logan.

Allison provided the chief support skipping Derek Mairs, Des Haggart and Jimmy Mallon to a 20-7 win over Gary Forbes that included a sparkling eight end spell and a lead of 18-2.

Speirs was being well held at 10-9 up after 12 ends but made telling space to 18 then skipped Bryan Cooper, David Wilson and James Speirs to a 19-15 win.

Life was much less cosy or rosy for Mann and his front three of Cameron Greer, Ian Drysdale and Stuart Johnston who trailed 15-3 after eight ends and remained in the doldrums to be punished 26-12 by Ron Henry.

Balbardie IBC gents have blown their strong pre-campaign promotion hopes but at least continued their escape from the relegation zone with a truly commendable 90-77 win over table toppers Falkirk in Division 1B of the national leagues.

Falkirk arrived at the Bathgate venue with an undefeated record after six games but Balbardie always had them in their grip and especially on the winning rinks skipped by Ewan Shearer and Graeme Byrne.

Balbardie signalled they were in the mood with a 28-19 score on the first seven-end phase and continued to out battle the league leaders 31-29 and 31-29.

Shearer led 11-3 and continued to clip the wings of Ian Todd by skipping Mark Bonnar Ian Drysdale and Andy Forrest to a good 30-17 win.

Byrne added a six at the eighth to lead 14-1 then led 20-9 before coming under late pressure and skipping Colin Fraser Davie Ross and Jim Speirs to a 22-17 win.

David Lawrie came from 10-23 to give 23-20 best to Ian Bone while the late loss of 2, 2 saw Sandy McDougall pipped 20-18 by Simon Thomson.

Balbardie now share the 8 point mark with Tweedbank and West Of Scotland while Falkirk have 12, Alloa 4 and Cumbernauld 2.

CalumLogan's commanding 21-10 win over Ewan Murray in the Singles set up West Lothian IBC to score a 6-2 win over Portobello at Bainfield in the first round of the Scottish Team Championship event.

Teenagers Paul Barrett Jennifer Richardson and Scott McMaster triumphed 15-8 over Andrew Caldwell in the Triples while Carole Clarkson and David Wilson edged a 20-18 win in the Pairs. The rink skipped by George Marshall lost 22-21.

Lorraine Malloy beat Martin Wyllie 21-14 in the Singles bur Balbardie made a 6-2 exit to Midlothian at Livingston.

West Lothian seniors crashed to a 72-44 home defeat from Midlothian in the East B league. Balbardie were idle.