Fleming secures Linlithgow bowling crown

Sep 17 2009 by Our Correspondent, West Lothian Courier

STEVEN Fleming of Linlithgow Bowling Club battled his way through a 28-strong field at a sun-swept Blackburn over the weekend to capture the Matt Purdie & Sons-sponsored 2009 WLBA Champion of Champions title.

The 37-year-old Linlithgow champion etched his name on the prestigious trophy at the 21-11 expense of Pumpherston challenger Derek Wardrop in a final that lasted 21 ends.

“I am chuffed to bits,” was the brief response of Fleming who is a prominent player in West Lothian circles, having reached the final of the WL Masters in 2006 and a regular member of the Hamilton Trophy team.

It was the third time the Burnside Trophy – donated by Broxburn BC in 1975 – has ended up in the trophy cabinet at Linlithgow, after the success of Stewart Getty in 1987 and Graham Laurie in 1992.

Wardrop, a national pairs runner up in 1998, tasted defeat in the final for a second time having lost to Laurie in 1992.

The end-of-season showcase event was held over one week due to adverse weather, thereby knocking out the challenge of Thomas Mann (Newbridge), Ross Agnew (Letham), Kenny Miller (Buchan Park), G Sheridan (West Calder) and Peter Harrison of Kinneil.

The management committee of the West Lothian Bowling Association allowed the previously unavailable Derek Wardrop of Pumpherston and Brian Campbell of Ratho to come in as replacements.

Fleming launched his bid for the title with a commanding 21-8 win over W McElhinney of Oakbank and followed up with a 21-7 success over W Smith of Harrysmuir to reach the quarter finals.

Wardrop found himself 13-4 adrift to Colin Fraser of Whitburn in the first round but engaged higher gears to accelerate to a 21-17 win then booked his place in the last eight at the expense of Mid Calder champion J Gow, 21-9.

Frazer Muirhead of Uphall Station, the 1981 national champion, was a shock first-round casualty, losing 21-19 to C Sturrock of Polbeth, while a 21-20 thriller saw Brian Saunders of Bathgate make a second-round exit to Walter McDougall of Glenmavis.

Messrs Fleming, Wardrop, and McDougall were joined in Sunday morning’s quarter-final line up by Kenny Black (East Calder), Brian Campbell (Ratho), Raymond Logan (Kirkliston), Tommy Johnston (Winchburgh) and Mark Graham of Queensferry.

Fleming was in dire straits at 14-4 down to the aggressive play of Logan but battled back into contention at 14-16 then hit 21 with a 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, finish while Wardrop finished strongly 21-12 over Campbell.

McDougall dominated from 5-5 to beat Black 21-11 while Graham escaped from jail with a 3, 2 finish to edge a 21-20 humdinger against Johnston.

The semi-final action saw Fleming pick up from 7-10 to lead Graham 18-14 but come under severe pressure at 18-18 before tipping the scales with a 1, 2 finish while Wardrop was the stronger finisher from 9-10 to beat McDougall, 21-12.

The early ends of the final were cat and mouse, with Wardrop gaining a 9-6 edge from his consistent drawing skills although Fleming was competing well and showing some decent conversion touches.

Peels were called at 10-10 then a significant moment saw Wardrop hold a close-clustered four at the next, only to be restricted to a single by a superb last-bowl killer from his opponent.

End 16 brought the first signs of a tidal change with Wardrop badly short when the head screamed for him to ditch an inviting jack for three and the punishment was severe in the shape of Fleming carding a good three to cross 13-11.

Fleming then came into his own, carding a two to 15 with a neat trail then producing a perfectly weighted punch-out for a single to 16, followed by a brilliantly judged two-bowl split off the nose of the jack to card another single to 17.

Wardrop was still playing well to the jack but his lack of aggression was costing him dear and Fleming piled on the pressure with an excellent head at the 20th end that yielded him a two to 19.

Fleming’s selection and execution of “yard on” stroke play had been an exciting feature of his play and yet another perfect example came at end 21 with a stronger runner that punched his own bowl on to the jack and through the head for a glorious double to 21.

“The best man won and although I know I missed some opportunities due to short play I think the moment that changed things was when Stevie reduced my four to a single when standing peels at 10,” summed up Wardrop.

Results: Round 1 – W McDougall (Glenmavis) 21 K Martin Jun (Armadale) 7; B Saunders (Bathgate) 21 D Miller (Springgrove) 16; K Black (East Calder) 21 R West (Philpstoun) 15; R Rankine (Watson Memorial) W/0 R Agnew (Letham) Scr; J Gow (Mid Calder) 21 R Hilson Sen (Blackburn) 16; D Wardrop (Pumpherston) 21 C Fraser (Whitburn) 17; A Meikle (Bo’ness) 21 G Linton (Bridgeness) 12; B Campbell (Ratho) 21 D McQueen (Bellsburn) 3; R Logan (Kirkliston) 21 R Gilmour (Harthill) 14; A Aitken (Deans) W/) K Miller (Buchan Park ) Scr; S Fleming (Linlithgow) 21 W McElhinney (Oakbank) 8; W Smith (Harrysmuir) 21 P Boyle (Middleton Hall) 9; T Johnston (Winchburgh ) 21 A Baird (Seafield) 9; C Sturrock (Polbeth) 21 F Muirhead (Uphall Station) 19; M Graham (Queensferry) 21 W Gorrie (Bankton Mains ) 18.

Round 2 – W McDougall 21 B Saunders 20; K Black 21 P Rankine 14; D Wardrop 21 J Gow 9; B Campbell 21 A Meikle 10; R Logan 21 A Aitken 8; S Fleming 21 W Smith 7; T Johnston 21 C Sturrock 16; M Graham W/O P Harrison (Kinneil) Scr.

Round 3 – W McDougall 21 K Black 11; D Wardrop 21 B Campbell 12; S Fleming 21 R Logan 16; M Graham 21 T Johnston 20.

Semi-finals – D Wardrop 21 W McDougall 12; S Fleming 21 M Graham 18.

Final – S Fleming (Linlithgow) 21 D Wardrop (Pumpherston) 11.