West Lothian bowls pair handed junior international trial chance

Oct 28 2010 West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian stars Cameron Greer and Calum Logan have both been named in the junior international trial match being staged at Abbeyview (Dunfermline) on Sunday, November 14.

Greer and Logan have nine and three caps to their name respectively and have been chosen to skip their trial rinks at the venue due to host the international series early in January.

Ewan Shearer (Balbardie) and Richard Mark (West Lothian) both made early exits in the playdown action of the Scottish Singles Championship at Auchinleck last weekend.

Both showed promise with preliminary round wins — Shearer beating Douglas McIntosh of East Kilbride, 21-16 and Mark beating Ryan Burnett of Arbroath, 21-17 — but then bowed out in the first round.

Shearer found life tough against Coatbridge internationalist Jim McLarrie and lost 21-12 while Mark gave 21-7 best to 1988-89 national champion Steven Rankin of Auchinleck.

The last four line up at Aberdeen next month will feature Colin Walker (Midlothian) against Steven Allan (Alloa) and Craig Bence (Cowal) against Robert Grant (Lanarkshire).

It's the turn of the ladies this weekend with Wendy Purdie and Liz Boyle carrying the banners of West Lothian and Balbardie respectively at Lanarkshire IBC.

West Lothian battled to 5-3 points win over Abbeyview in the first round action of the Headwell (hosts) Team Championship last weekend with the outcome going right down to the wire.

Mark Allison — back on his first carpet — just held out from 20-12 up after 18-ends to skip Paul Lynas Des Hagart and Neil Speirs in the Gents rink to a 20-19 win over Stuart Pagan.

While Thomas Mann in the under 35s bounced back from 18-12 down to skip Blair Mackie James Greenock and James Speirs to an 18-18 peel with Paul Brown.

Ann Clark made an inspirational start to lead 10-1 after 5-ends then skipped Irene Taylor Jenifer Richardson and Jennifer Sneddon to a 23-18 success over Ann Bernard.

But George Marshall and his seniors rink of Bill Gorrie Peter Ball and John Craig couldn't quite get to grips with former WL captain Duncan Lawson and lost 16-14.

Balbardie were also competing in the same event across the Forth and wins for the Ladies, Gents, and Seniors produced a good 6-2 win over East Fife.

The ladies of West Lothian IBC achieved their second win in Division 1C of the Scottish League Cup defeating Tweedbank by 22 shots (95-73) at the Inveralmond stadium last weekend.

Tweedbank did inflict the pain of defeat on two of the WL rinks but handsome wins for the rinks skipped by Wendy Purdie and Ann Clark kept the home flag flying high.

Inspired on the first phase by a flying start from Ann Clark the opening 7-ends were captured 35-24 by the hone side who then edged the second, 29-26 and the third, 31-23.

The top honours of the day went to Purdie and her rink of Creena Docherty, Jean McPherson and Jennifer Richardson with a spectacular 38-9 win over Pat Houston highlighted by a storming 16-1 contribution on the third phase.

Clark made a phenomenal start to skip Irene Taylor Isabel Lindsay and Lisa Barrett into a 25-5 lead after 12-ends but the wheels came off and saw them wobble to a 29-22 win over Jackie Ormiston.

Lean times for Lucy Noon Sandra Purdie Helen Tully and Lily Sword saw them trail 20-6 before closing to 15 with a fighting 1, 3, 3, 2 finish against Marie Todd.

Jean Brown added a 4 to have Catherine Howie Evelyn Barclay and Margaret Oliver in touch at 12-14 after 14-ends but they slipped to a 22-13 defeat from Moira Bell.

Portobello inflicted a first defeat on East Lothian and these two now share top spot on six-points with Bainfield while West Lothian have 4 Teviotdale 2 and Tweedbank nil.

The gents national league action resumes this weekend with West Lothian away to Auchinleck in the D section of the Premier League and Balbardie at home to Portobello in Division 1B.