Linlithgow’s search for first win goes on

Kirkliston’s capture of West Lothian Bowling Association’s historic Rosebery Cup for a 25th time was achieved at the expense of Linlithgow in a hard fought final played at Harrysmuir BC in Livingston.

Wins for the KBC rinks skipped by Raymond Logan and Neil Speirs were the chief components in a 77-71 victory that went right down to the wire with Linlithgow inflicting serious wounds on Calum Logan and Grant Logan.

The 2017 final lived up to that reputation with Linlithgow setting a strong early pace that looked likely to deliver them an eighth etching of their name on the coveted silverware and indeed at the 17- end distance they were 61-57 winners.

But their one time 12-shot lead was under constant pressure and being gradually diminished by a star studded Kirkliston opposition that were finding the traditional second wind that inspires a determined push to get their nose in front.

Linlithgow will reflect that they landed a killer punch on several occasions only for its effects to be brilliantly reduced by superb life saving defensive deliveries from Calum Logan in particular.

Such events are often masked in a final scoreline; but one game- changing highlight for all to see was the grandstand style finish of Calum Logan’s father Raymond with ‘ The Super Ray’ of old storming over the line with a whirlwind run of 13 shots without reply.

The phase scoring reflects the long time supremacy of Linlithgow with their 2821 and 28-23 capture of the first two phases but with Kirkliston snapping on their heels it was “The Cheesetown Boys” that won the day with their spectacular 33- 15 command of the third.

Logan (Ray) skipped Davy Brown, Darren Pearce, and Derrick Meikle from 3-7 to a 25- 14 win over Andrew Cruickshanks, Scott Murphy, Scott Mushet and Gary Orr.

Speirs pushed on from 5-4 to skip Nathan McKendrick, Scott Logan, and Mark Allison to a 21- 11 win over Derek Cochrane, Tam Hamilton, David Alexander, and Gary Smith.

Grant Logan and his rink of Andy Suddon, Gordon Logan, and Steven Forrest carded a six at the second but went on to suffer a 23-17 defeat at the hands of Willie McLeod, Derek Logie, Ewan Shearer, and Graeme Byrne.

Calum Logan and his front three of Andy Gray, Jordan Pearce, and John Aitken were taking it on the chin at 20-4 down and rode many more punches in spirited fashion to restrict their defeat to 2314 at the hands of Andrew Grimshaw, Martin Stein, Mark Graham, and Steven Fleming.

But it didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things as the Kirkliston team sealed a famous win. Linlithgow are still searching for their first win of the season after falling to a one-run loss against a Musselburgh side chasing promotion to the top flight.

An impressive bowling display from John Strachan, who took four wickets for just 11 runs in his 10 overs, helped dismiss Musselburgh for 136 in 47.3 overs.

The visitors looked well placed to pick up their elusive victory at 88-1 when Strachan was caught on 34. That led to a steady fall of wickets as well as a reduction in run rate which saw a dramatic final over.

With Linlithgow needing two runs to win on the final ball, a run-out put paid to their hopes as they suffered a narrow loss.

Elsewhere, the club’s Second XI were beaten by five wickets against Edinburgh CC in Division Three.

In a match that pitted Division Three’s top and bottom sides, Linlithgow never looked like causing an upset as they were dismissed for 97. Unbeaten Edinburgh needed less than 22 overs to knock off the required runs.

Both Livingston’s First and Second XI side lost with the top team suffering an eight-run loss in Division Two. Fauldhouse Vics lost by six wickets to Morton to fall to the foot of the Division Two table.