Bowls: Bainfield stay calm despite shock defeat

Published on Monday 12 October 2009 10:01

BAINFIELD'S campaign to gain promotion from the B section of Division 1 of the national indoor bowls league system isn't in crisis despite the favourites' shock defeat at Alloa on Saturday.

Alloa inflicted 79-75 pain on a Bainfield team that was already depleted in strength before the late call-off from an unwell Stevie McLeod added to their woes.

"We were expected to win so losing is a major blow, but there are mitigating circumstances," said team manager John Bell.

Bell believes that, despite having earned only one point from four over the two opening matches, the Bainfield challenge will improve immensely as soon as the team welcomes back Robert Marshall, Colin Hutchison, Craig Moss and Stevie McLeod.

"I am still confident we can recapture our Premier League status," he said.

The rinks skipped by Alan Brown and Jamie Gracie did produce wins for Bainfield but didn't manage to cover the defeat of Paul O'Donnell and Gavin Smith.

Alloa edged the first phase 29-22 and the third 31-25 but Bainfield kept themselves in it with a 28-19 win on the second.

Brown clicked for a six at the eighth end to lead 10-5 and was inspired to skip Derek Smith Adam Brock and Alan Trotter to a 22-12 win over Brian Ramage.

Gracie made good space from 9-10 to 17-11 but still needed a 3, 1, 2 finish to skip Graeme McIntosh, Paul Millar and Brian Stoddart to a 24-19 win over Stuart Pearson.

O'Donnell and his rink of Craig Paterson, Stuart Patterson and Willie McDonald were pipped 19-18 by Alan Murray, while Smith and his front three of Chris Downie, John Kidd and Gary Purdie lost 29-11 defeat to Ian Inglis.

Elsewhere, Balbardie beat Whiteinch 82-65 and Tweedbank beat Stirling 94-77.