Late show puts shine on final league position

Jan 22 2009 by Our Correspondent, West Lothian Courier

TOO late to make a difference but West Lothian bowlers continued their late progress up the B section table of the indoor Premier League with a commendable 83-78 away win over second placed Coatbridge.

Graeme Archer was an absentee for the county side for the match but his international colleague Thomas Mann made his return to the squad.

And it was a win for Mann and fellow skip Mark Allison that carried the day against a Coatbridge side that inflicted defeat on George Sneddon and Neil Speirs.

Mann was the highest flyer for the West Lothian lads and set the scene for match victory by skipping Ewan Wilson, Ian Drysdale and Calum Logan to a 24-13 win over Jim McLarrie.

Allison was harder pushed in his contest but produced the main support by skipping Derek Mairs, Des Hagart, and Jimmy Mallon to a 27-23 win over John McHutchison.

Scott Bishop edged Sneddon and his rink of Cameron Greer, Kenny Black and Joey Strickland out 21-18.

However, Bryan Cooper, David Wilson, James Speirs and Neil Speirs crashed 21-14 to Bob Murphy.

West Lothian climax their section programme against second from bottom Arbroath at the Inveralmond stadium this weekend.

A win for the West Lothian side will see them finish the season in third place behind East Lothian and Coatbridge in the league’s pecking order.

East Lothian have won the Premier League title three times in a row.

And having clinched their qualifying place with an away win over Aberdeen — making it nine wins out of nine — they will now be bidding to make it a record breaking four-in-a-row against Blantyre in the play-off final at Dundee.

Blantyre clinched the A section of the indoor league honours ahead of Midlothian with a convincing 108-69 home win over Bainfield in their penultimate match.

Balbardie travelled to foot of the table Cumbernauld in Division 1B and produced a commanding 91-61 victory.

This result is likely to confirm them finishing in second place but adrift of the uncatchable Falkirk - even with the leaders losing 73-62 in their match at Alloa.

The Bathgate-based side complete their 10 match programme with a home game against third placed Tweedbank.

They have announced the following line-up for their final match of the season.

The team will be: Rink One – Mark Bonar Alistair Wilson Andy Forrest and Ewan Shearer.

Rink Two – Lawson Trotter Gary Orr Iain Grant and Sandy McDougall.

Rink Three – Colin Fraser Davie Ross David Lawrie and Graeme Byrne.

Rink Four – Ian Drysdale John Ellis Jim Speirs and Gerry Duggan.

WEST Lothian marched into the last 16 stage of the Scottish Team Championship event with a 6-2 points win over Teviotdale at Midlothian last Sunday.

The West Lothian side will now play Midlothian in the next stage of the championship after they defeated Abbeyview 6-2 at Bainfield.

Calum Logan filled the spearhead role for West Lothian.

And the teenager produced a magnificent performance to blitz the noted Stuart Bebbington, 21-8 in a singles clash that was completed in 14-ends.

A poor start in the Pairs that included the loss of a seven at the third end saw Carole Clarkson and David Wilson trail 11-3 before wakening up with a stirring run of 1, 2, 4, 1, 3, 2, 1 that powered them into a 17-11 lead.

And that set the West Lothian partnership up for a comfortable 31-20 success for a very good win indeed.

Teenage trio Paul Barrett, Jennifer Richardson and Scott McMaster were a real wow in the Triples.

They were inspired by a magnificent seven at the second and they proceeded to lead 20-4 =to eventually triumph 23-11.

Teviotdale got off the mark in their contest with a win in the Fours although it was touch and go before a 1, 4, finish saw Colin Rae inflict a 23-17 defeat on Iain Clark June bell Ann Clark and George Marshall.

WEST Lothian ladies have named the following team to tackle Lanarkshire at Wishaw in the climax fixture to the E section of the Scottish League Cup.

Rink One – Irene Wright Catherine Howie Lily Sword and Ann Clark.

Rink Two – Jennifer Richardson Hean McPherson Carole Clarkson and Wendy Purdie.

Rink Three – Irene Taylor Irene Lindsay Lisa Barrett and June Bell.

Rink Four – Lucy Noon Jean Brown Helen Tully and Jennifer Sneddon.

West Lothian are well out of the running in the competition.

However, Balbardie are only one shot adrift of leaders Falkirk in the section.

However, with the leaders travelling to foot of the table Cumbernauld the local side face a tougher task away to third placed Coatbridge.

WEST Lothian Indoor Bowling Club staged the final of the Triples championship last weekend.

And the trio crowned champions were Bryan Cooper, Stuart Johnston and Mark Allison after putting on a great show.

Allison and company made a blitz start in the contest to lead Blair Mackie, James Speirs and Jim Mallon 10-0 after five ends.

And this continued throughout the game as they went on to triumph 19-11.