Watson Memorial win the Scottish Triples Title

Aug 4 2011 West Lothian Courier

WATSON Memorial in the ladies Triples and Newbridge in the ladies Senior Fours did bowling in West Lothian proud with immense campaigns to win the respective national titles in the Prostate Cancer Charity-sponsored Bowls Scotland Championships played at Ayr Northfield last week.

Steven Fleming of Buchan Park was the star turn for the WL challenge in the Gents championships but after a promising start to his semi-final of the Junior Singles he made a 21-9 exit to Josh Spalding of Craigentinny.

The hero trio for Watson Memorial of Jean Thomson, Jessie Bell and Sadie Spalding started to create ripples of excitement when they followed an opening 15-8 win over Victoria Park with a thrilling 18-16 win over Dalbeattie.

Spalding and Co. continued to sparkle at the 19-9 expense of Bishopton in the third round, then kept their support pain free as they stormed to a 19-4 success over Thurso in the semis.

Any final in these major championships are nerve-wracking challenges but the WM trio came up with the perfect settler in the shape of a 4 on the first end against Chirnside.

But they soon found they were up against a determined opposition and after 11-ends the destination of the title was in the melting pot with Chirnside leading 11-10.

The turning point lay just around the corner and it came in the shape of a crucial run of 1, 2, 1 as Spalding and Co rose above all the pressures to lead 15-10 and that cushion saw them hold on at the last to triumph 15-13.

Meanwhile, the Newbridge Senior Four of Jean Bryce, Doreen Allan, Eileen Sangster and Jane Taylor were matching the sunshine weather with a series of sparkling displays to beat Yarrows (17-12), Rosyth Civil Service (15-5) and Balgownie (14-11) to reach the semis.

Peebles were next on their tourist route to the final and Taylor skipped her front three to a resounding 21-6 win that set up a confrontation with Bishopton in the final.

Newbridge were slow into their stride as they tried to come to terms with the pressures of the occasion but didn't pay a big penalty and at 6-4 down after eight ends they found a top gear that would accelerate them into the driving seat.

Taylor and Co. were bringing great joy to their support on the banking with a brilliant purple patch run of 4, 1, 2, 4, 2 that brought it ultimate reward in the shape of a title winning 17-7 victory.

WL entertained high hopes of a third title success with Uphall Station stars Sandra Steven and Kirsteen McLelland bidding to win the Pairs for a third time when tackling Port Seton sisters Leanne and Lauren Baillie in the Pairs final.

But the Baillie's were also former champions and it was their best form that was reproduced as they led 10-3 and stormed to a runaway 21-7 win.

Singles favourite Lorraine Malloy of Deans made a disappointing exit in the first round of the Singles, losing 21-13 to Gillian Macintosh of London Road Foundry while the second-round play saw Claire Watson of Broxburn lose 21-10 to Yvonne Veitch.

Veitch of East Lothian Co-op campaigned on to become a worthy winner of the title.

Jenifer Richardson of the Deans won her first game in the Junior Singles 21-4 but then lost 21-18 to Alison McDougall of Maitland in an event won 21-20 by Lesley Gordon of Strathmiglo against Stacey Laidlaw of Dalkeith.

David McCormick of Bathgate was showing well in the Gents Singles having followed a 21-20 nailbiter against Alan Robinson of Lochaber with a 21-11 win over Ross Reid of West Mains.

McCormick had the delivery style and skill to do well against the fancied Alan McKay of Westhill (Aberdeen) but on the day didn't have the gears to lift his game when needed and lost 21-14 in the third round.

McKay reached the final but lost 21-9 to 22-year old Mark Kelsey of Rutherglen.

Steven Fleming's run to the semi-finals of the Junior Singles saw the Buchan Park star beat Ross McLenaghan of BSC Coatdyke, 21-20 then Steven Wilson of Drunoyne, 21-11 and Andrew Thomson of Markinch, 21-17.

Newbridge made a 16-12 exit to Coylton in the second round of the Pairs while Kirliston suffered a 19-12 defeat from Law in the first round of the Triples, and the Winchburgh Senior Four made a first-round exit to Aberfeldy.

Broxburn showed up well in the Fours with Mark Allison skipping Scott Logan, David Wilson Sen and Stewart Grant to wins over Blacklandmill (16-11) and The Inverness (20-15) before losing 17-11 to Stranraer West End.

Wellington Park edged out Gifford (16-13) in the final of the Pairs while last end drama saw Craigentinny pip Port William (14-13) in the Triples, and Carrick Knowe beat Stranraer West End in the Fours. Northfield beat Gourock Park in the Seniors.

Five seeds departed the scene after two rounds of the Scotmid-sponsored West Lothian Masters with Mark Allison the No 10 from Broxburn the first to go in Monday nights first round.

Tuesday nights second round saw record three-times Master John Aitken of Kirkliston make a shock 21-16 exit to Eddie Ritchie of Pumpherston and the No.3 was joined by another Scottish Singles champion in Raymond Logan (Kirkliston), the No.9 who lost 21-18 to Glenn King of Bankton Mains.

The other seeds to fall were Bryan Cooper, the No.11 from Bathgate, and Graeme Byrne, the No.16 from Linlithgow.

The venues for tonight (Thursday) are Kirkliston, Queensferry, Broxburn, and Deans. and tomorrow, Pumpherston and Bellsburn.

Linlithgow will host the final day’s play on Sunday with the quarter-finals starting at 11am.

Finally, West Lothian can't qualify for the knockout stage of the Matt Purdie Senior Fours following a narrow 56-53 defeat away to East Lothian on Monday.