Bathgate on a high with Top Ten title

Published on Wednesday 20 August 2008 10:33

BATHGATE HIGH bridged a ten-year gap since their last success in 1998 when they captured the John Smith's Extra Smooth West Lothian Bowls Association's Top Ten title with a 6-2 points victory over Newbridge in the final at Kirkliston.

Wins in the Singles, Pairs and Triples tipped the scales in favour of a Bathgate challenge that received a setback in the Fours.

While the margin of victory looks commanding, it was enhanced by the dramatic success of Bryan Cooper in the Singles having been 18-10 down to Newbridge's Thomas Mann.

Mann, 27, led 13-5 then had his Newbridge supporters in raptures as he brought the winning post into sharp focus with a double on the 16th end to reach 18.

The state of the final on the other rinks meant that Newbridge needed a win in the Singles to keep their title hopes alive so what developed next was traumatic, incident packed and sensational.

Cooper, 26, the reigning County Junior Open Champion and runner up in the West Lothian Masters and County Singles, stuck doggedly to his task and a tenacious fight back saw him claw his way back into the picture at 18-14. Mann edged to 20-16 and looked good for the two points. However, the recent debut cap made a bold and positive decision to target a jack into the ditch, a tactic, if successful, which would clinch victory.

The trouble was that he proceeded to fail with several attempts – some near misses and two burnt jacks – over the next four ends allowing Cooper to cash in and steal victory with a 1, 1, 2, 1 finish.

That outcome put Bathgate into a comfort zone but left Newbridge out on a limb in their need to support a 16-12 win for the rink of James Greenock, Joe Arthurs, Blair Mackie and Ian Robertson in the Fours.

Robertson had trailed 12-6 at one stage, but performed exceptionally well to turn the tables on a strong Bathgate opposition comprising of Ian Drysdale, Gerry Duggan, Grant Taylor and Billy Arnott.

Bathgate fielded County champions David Drysdale and David Lawrie in the Pairs and they led 9-3 then converted a 16-6 advantage into a 16-13 win over Jim Speirs and Alec Allan.

In the Triples, Bathgate's David McCormick, Brian Saunders and Alan McCormick raced into a 14-3 lead to deliver a 15-9 win over Drew Paterson, James Speirs and Paul Sweeney.