West win keeps up challenge

County West bowlers maintained their Hamilton Trophy challenge on Saturday with a hard-earned victory over local rivals Clackmannan and Kinross.

The Scottish Counties encounter at Causewayhead proved a tough challenge throughout for the homesters before eventually winning by 10 shots and with three winning rinks.

It was around the halfway mark before County had established a 12-shot advantage and despite a brief spell when this rose to 25, their lead quickly shrank as their opponents fought back.

Highest up for County West were James Wray, Ian Forsyth, Billy Guy and Kevan Frogley with a 27-8 win over David Craig, while Arron Furzer, David Mcewan, Dougie Kerr and Pat Martin won 29-17 against David Wallace.

Also winning were Daniel Mccann, David Stewart, Michael Murphy and Willie Black who edged Neil Dewar 16-15.

Elsewhere James

Stanfield, George Young, Danny Mccormick and David Ferguson lost 1614 to Neil Solomon while Adam Cockburn, Manny Cruz, Gary Brown and Sandy Deans lost 13-12 to David Jones.

Completing the line up were Alastair Mcfarlane, David Mckean, James Brown and Gary Malcolmson who lost 28-9 to Jim Flannagan. Totals: Stirling County West 107-97 Clackmannan and Kinross.

On Saturday Stirling County head to the Kirn green in Dunoon to play Argyll and Bute.

SCOTTISH

The first District Nine qualifiers for the national finals emerged on Sunday at Alloa’s Patons green.

In the singles Alva’s Neil Dewar won 21-14 over Adam Penman from Alloa East End, while in the pairs, after a nail biting finish, Bridge of Allan’s Andy Sneddon and Billy Guy were 1615 winners over Alloa Co-op’s Glyn Jones and Norrie Kyle.

Triples winners were Alloa’s David Craig, Andrew Kennedy and Kris Storf with a 14-7 victory over Polmaise three Alex Mcneill, Arron Furzer and Arron Hazel.

In the fours contest Cambus & District’s Brian Craw, Robert Hunter, Greg Rosbotham and David Melvin won 21-11 against Jim Reid, Tom Hatton, Harry Houston and Alan Mcintosh (Spittalmyre).

The winners now progress to July’s national finals at Ayr’s Northfield greens.

DISTRICT LEAGUE

Opening results in the Stirling District League were, Bruce Section: Stirling 12-15 Polmaise; Polmaise 21-14 Stirling; Bridge of Allan 1816 Cambusbarron; Cambusbarron 8-22 Bridge of Allan; Bannockburn 11-15 Borestone; Borestone 35-8 Bannockburn.

Wallace Section: Doune Castle 16-8 Riverside; Riverside 10-23 Doune Castle; Dunblane 7-22 Causewayhead; Causewayhead 13-13 Dunblane.

CENTRAL

The championship finals of Stirlingshire Central Association will be held on Monday, May 30 at the Stirling green.