Bowls: Greer lords it over King to capture Masters title

By STEWART MEIKLE
Published on 13/08/2012 12:00

Cameron Greer of Bathgate is the 14th West Lothian Master, with the 25-year-old Junior Scotland cap surviving an eight-match campaign to capture the Scotmid Co-operative-sponsored £1000 title and signature Green Jacket.

Greer, the grandson of Mel Muirhead, who won 18 caps and reached the 1964 final of the national singles, beat 28-year-old Glenn King of Bankton Mains, 21-16, in last night’s final at Broxburn.

The final was a 23-end 
battle that could have gone 
either way. Greer led 8-3 after seven ends then, when tested at 9-8, he carded 2, 3 to 14 but was reeled back to 14-14 when King thrilled the watching 
banking with two brilliantly drawn counts of 3.

King played another superb end at the next but was frustrated twice, first when Greer saved his skin with a great split on to the jack to kill 3 and hold shot, then second when his on-target effort to remove the shot bowl was unlucky to push it on to the jack allowing Greer the space to card an easy 2.

Greer breathed a sigh of relief at his escape then, opting to concentrate on a longer length of jack, continued to play with a determination that enabled him to keep his nose in front at 
18-16, and he battled on to hit 21 with a hat-trick of singles

“I am chuffed to bits at winning this major title, especially as I lost my place in the Hamilton Trophy team for a spell earlier in the season,” said Greer.

Asked about any scares in his week-long campaign, Greer said: “I was 11-0 down to James Speirs of Newbridge in the third round and had to save game twice before winning 21-20.

“Then, earlier today, in my semi-final against Alan 
McCormick of Bathgate, I slipped from 18-12 up to 19-18 down then at 20-19 up faced game against me until converting with a yard on into the head to card the match-winner.”

Greer had launched the final day’s play on a fast-running Broxburn surface with a 21-13 win over Colin Fraser.

King opened his day with a 21-13 win over host club challenger Tommy Turnbull then won a cracking semi-final 21-17 against Andi Gray.

Earlier, Gray, from Kirkliston, sent Frazer Muirhead, the last remaining seed (No. 13) tumbling out with a 21-18 defeat.

McCormick, meanwhile, staged a 1, 1, 3, 2 fightback from 20-14 down to pip Calum McLean of Oakbank, 21-20.