Gary Smith crowned 12th West Lothian Master

Jul 29 2010 West Lothian Courier

GARY SMITH proved that life behind a desk at World Bowls Ltd’s headquarters hasn’t affected his game after he staged a miraculous fightback to become the 12th West Lothian Masters champion.

Smith, the current chief executive of the international bowling body based in South Gyle, clinched his first ever Masters success – and the first for his club Linlithgow – with a superb 21-17 comeback win to lift the trophy and claim the prestigious signature Green Jacket.

However, the result of the final at Uphall Station was devastating for unseeded Newbridge ace Drew Paterson, who looked to be cruising to the title at 16-7, only to fall to a remarkable comeback from his 51-year-old opponent.

“I am absolutely delighted to have etched my name on this coveted trophy and, as an Englishman in Scotland, I had to play hard and well all week to achieve it,” Smith, No7 seed, told the Courier.

“I employed three strategies automatically when I realised that the game was slipping away from me.

“I didn’t panic in my head, I remained patient, and I stuck to my guns in terms of trying to draw myself out of trouble, instead of being sucked into striking out in desperation.

“In terms of tactics, Drew was handing me the jack and I used that to play around with the mat placement in an effort to upset his rhythm and I like to think that paid a late dividend for me.”

Smith came into the final as the favourite, due to a combination of his ranking, experience, and lead-up form; but in a curious and bewildering twist, he found himself very much in a role reversal when he trailed his 48-year old opponent by nine.

Paterson had his rival on the ropes as he dominated the heads with his accurate and relaxed style of drawing, mastering a line and length that Smith could not find.

It seemed to be all over bar the shouting and the crowd watching the action unfold at Uphall Station thought so too. Paterson — a Scottish Champion in the Triples and a seasoned campaigner to boot — should have known that the match was far from over. Smith certainly did, keeping in touch in the hope of making a miraculous recovery.

Wise thinking from a player with 45 caps for England before embarking on an international career with Scotland in 2008, for it was yielding to the temptation to strike that proved to be Paterson’s downfall.

It was a cruel turn of events for The Newbridge ace as he had little need to use force as early as his second bowl when faced with two crackers on the jack against him.

Miss, miss, then only partial contact, cost him four shots that moved Smith to 11.

Paterson wasn’t guilty of using wild force but his ditch length weight with these three bowls was enough to upset his rhythm, causing him to wander at the next end and Smith punished him with a 3 to 14.

“This was the turn of events I needed and the immediate boost to my confidence became obvious when my first two bowls at the next end not only covered the jack but also, for the first time, transferred the pressure onto Drew,” recalled Smith.

These two shots at end 17 reached the card, so it was now game on at 16-16, and Paterson responded with a smart chap and lie for a single to 17.

However, the game had turned on its head and Smith was now beating Paterson to the draw in the build-up play and he hit the front for the first time with a double to 18-17, having forced his opponent into more unrewarding strike action.

Paterson was handed the jack on end 20 and cast it full length but Smith grabbed the initiative with a nose trail then supported it with a bowl one foot behind the jack to hold 2, turning up the pressure on his opponent’s final effort.

Smith looked on as Paterson watched his fourth delivery sneak agonisingly past the jack, then it was real killer instinct in action as the past British Isles Pairs champion brilliantly added a third shot to clinch the title, the jacket and a cheque for £1,000.

The end result was a bitter blow for Paterson, who admitted that he should have gone on to win from such a healthy lead.

“I guess I blew it big time but I have had a great Masters week,” he said. “To reach the final as an unseeded player was a great achievement and although I’m hurting a bit inside, I play bowls with a light heart, so will get over this.”

Smith did produce the odd big bowl during his period of great anguish and one in particular probably proved crucial — it was end 12 with Paterson leading 12-6 and holding a good 3 before the No 7 killed the lot with a brilliant last bowl draw.

Earlier in the week, the last day’s play commenced with the quarter-finals and wins for Smith over No2 seed John Aitken, 21-9, and Paterson over David Wilson of Broxburn, 21-12.

Kenny Black of East Calder beat Stewart McMaster of Broxburn, 21-9, and No 4 seed Graeme Archer of the host club always had No 5 seed Neil Speirs in his grip to win, 21-16.

The semi-finals produced a major upset with Paterson soon converting an 18-0 lead into a 21-8 win over Archer however the formbook prevailed when Smith beat Black, 21-9.

Smith’s route to the last day’s play saw him survive a 21-18 fright against Tom Grant of Broxburn then follow on with wins over James Bird (East Calder0, 21-16, Ian Robertson (Newbridge), 21-12, Mark Wilson (Armadale (21-10, and Adam Gilliland (Bankton Mains), 21-17.

Round One saw Paterson set the Masters alight with the 21-14 scalp of George Sneddon (No8), while Bryan Cooper (No 12) fell to Colin McConaghy of Glenmavis.

Frazer Muirhead (No16) was a non-starter.

Round Two saw Alan Ure of Kinneil beat Brian Edwards (No11), 21-14 and Steven Fleming of Buchan Park beat Walter McDougall (No14), 21-10.

Round Three brought the demise of Alec Allan (No15) at the hands of Liam Fairley of Deans while Round Four saw holder and No1 seed Grant Logan make a 21-19 exit to David Wilson of Broxburn.

The No1 was joined on the sidelines by Steven Fleming (No10) who lost 21-7 to Adam Gilliland of Bankton Mains and Sandy McDougall (No13) who bowed out in a 21-20 thriller against Scott Logan of Broxburn.

Round Five saw Andrew Dunnett (No3) lose 21-17 to Kenny Black of East Calder, Ewan Shearer (N6) lose 21-9 to Stewart McMaster of Broxburn), and Mark Allison (No9) give 21-11 best to Paterson.

The field was now down to the last eight.

The final stage of the national championships — both men and women — are in full swing at Ayr Northfield this weekend, with play taking place from Wednesday through to Sunday.