Gutted WL clubs leave nationals on a real downer
Title winning bids from Balbardie IBC in the Ladies Pairs and West Lothian IBC in the Gents Pairs both came to grief, with frustrating final defeats in the Scottish Championships at Aberdeen.
It was bad news for the Gents Triples too as their pathway into the final was cruelly blocked and denied despite a brilliant performance from the Balbardie trio of Andrew Jenkins, Kenny Martin and Ewan Shearer.
Shearer and his front two entered their semi-final as underdogs against a high profile East Lothian trio of Mark Johnston, Willie Wood MBE and Derek Oliver who between them had 125 international caps to their credit.
The early exchanges belied the form-book as a tenacious attitude from the Bathgate- based triple saw them set the pace and battle into a 9-6 lead after nine ends.
The picture did change complexion with a rapid run of 2, 2, 2 that enabled East Lothian to take a 12-9 advantage but that landscape was dramatically transformed by a brilliant 5, 2 run that saw Balbardie back in the driving seat with a 16-12 supremacy.
The prospect of Balbardie delivering a shock upset was intensified with the East Lothian stars still being forced to operate on the back foot at 18-15 down; and fast approaching the finishing line with just two ends to play.
The outcome of the penultimate end was going to be crucial and it was a temperature-raising moment when EL carded a sizzling count of three that resulted in the match being tied at 18.
That sett the scene for a thrilling climax and a last-end drama that set pulse rates racing before culminating in a knife-edge single that triggered a passionate rejoicing in the East Lothian camp – in stark contrast to the look of devastation that enveloped Balbardie.
The Balbardie banner was also prominent in the Ladies Pairs and carried proudly by Sharon Leitch and Lorraine Craig who dominated their semi-final to score a 23-12 victory over Margaret Sloan and Emma McIntyre of Dumbarton.
The exciting Balbardie partnership were bidding to achieve a hat-trick of title wins and the final pitched them against Arbroath’s Leanne Furye and Caroline Ruxton who had beaten Sandra McLeish and Stacey McDougall of Midlothian in their semi-final.
A first end nightmare for Balbardie in the final saw them concede a six and the setback signalled the start of catastrophic experience that led to a 21-3 deficit and a eventually a 24-10 defeat.
West Lothian hopes soared when Thomas Mann and Calum Logan delivered a strong performance to crush their fellow caps Robert Gordon and Robert Grant of Lanarkshire, 21-10 in their semi final of the Gents Pairs.
The imposing figure of recently crowned World Singles Champion, Paul Foster MBE and his lead Craig Lindsay suggested a hard fought final was in store and after 11 ends the outcome hung in the balance with WL very much in touch at 8-7 down.
But a blank spell of four ends proved costly for Mann and Logan with the loss of 4,1, 4, 1 leaving them a mountain to climb at 18-7 down and, with the challenge proving to be beyond them, they suffered a 20-9 defeat.