Champs to chumps

Poor showing all round by bowlers at Scottish finals

Hopes of national silverware for Stirling and Clackmannan bowlers disappeared quickly at last week’s Scottish finals at Ayr.

In a sorry showing by the district champions, all gents tumbled out after the first and second rounds while the women didn’t fare much better with two teams lasting one round further.

In the gents events, Kevin Wallace (Clackmannan) saw off Darren Gentles (Hyndland) 21-10 in the singles before exiting 21-16 to Blair Davidson (Blacklands).

John Bryson (Livilands) bowed out to Alistair Gunn (Bearsden) in the senior singles 21-13, while Stirling’s Lee McCormack defeated Arthurlie’s Daniel McCusker 21-12 in his opening junior singles match before losing 21-11 to Reece Notman (Stonehouse).

In the pairs, Donald Dalgleish and Danny McCormick (Polmaise) won 23-4 against St Fergus, but then lost 22-8 to Fairfield and in the triples Garry Brown, James Brown and Gary Malcolmson (Polmaise) made an early exit losing 17-7 to Haddington.

Alloa East End four Chris Duncan, Ryan Craig, Sandy Wallace and Colin Craig lost 22- 12 to Argyll, while senior fours – Borestone’s Andy Allan, Neil Lafferty, Neil Boyle and Larry Green – lost 12-9 to Bankfoot.

In the mixed pairs competition, past winners Rita Smith and Gary Malcolmson (Polmaise) lost 17-15 to Largs’ Halkshill club.

Pauline Thomson (Alloa East End) was pipped 21-20 in her opening match against Kirsty Sinclair (Polmuir) and junior singles hopeful Eilidh Weir from the Alloa East End club lost 21-17 to Carla Banks (Inverurie).

In the senior singles, Dunblane’s Sandra Hardie had a bye in the first round before losing 21-8 to Burnbank’s Margret Letham.

Pairs Rebecca Craig and Julie Wallace (Alloa East End) won 32-10 in their opening match against Priorscroft, but then lost 20-19 to Inverurie. Clubmates Margaret Russell, Mary Miller and Aimmee Thomson defeated Condorrat 25-8 in the triples and then beat Newmills 19-10 before losing 22-9 to Kilbarchan.

In the fours contest Tulliallan’s Emma Simpson, Jean Wallace, Janice Hunter and Rachel Fairbairn lost 1412 to Troon Portland. senior fours Jean Menzies, Sandra Fullerton, May Thornton and Jenny Jackson (Orwell) won 12-10 against Croftfoot, then won 15-14 over Bellshill before losing 14-13 to Colinton. Reid Trophy Winners of the Reid Trophy are Bridge of Allan BC. In the recent Central Association tournament, Bridge of Allan amassed a total of eight points and 35 shots. Runners-up were Polmaise with six points and 24 shots.

Riverside In the annual friendly against Bannockburn for the Glen Bridgeman Trophy, Riverside won a close match by six shots. Results (Riverside skips first): I Gillies 12-12 D Laird; J Kendall 11-12 G Dickson; J Millar 18-14 A Meldrum; T Findlay 13-10 B Davidson. Totals: Riverside 5448 Bannockburn.