Bowls: Late show saves the day for league leaders Craigentinny

Published on Friday 29 May 2009 09:57

AFTER three 9-0 triumphs on the trot, table-toppers Craigentinny just escaped to a 6-3 home win over Hillside by the skin of their teeth in Division 1 of the Alpha Trophies Edinburgh Bowling League.

"It was dangerously close to a major hiccup for us as we were looking down the barrel of a 9-0 defeat until salvaging an incredible six points with last-gasp efforts on three of our four rinks," said Craigentinny spokesman Grant McLaren.

The fun and games included Ian Paterson trailing Kevin Moncur 13-8 with three ends to play but rescuing a point by skipping Paul Robertson, John Shields, and Gary Nisbet to a 1, 1, 3 finish.

Then Andy Jeffrey trailed Keith Gallacher, 9-2, 14-7, and 19-14 with two ends to play but managed to steal both points by skipping Jamie Reid, Scott Duncan, and Kevin Hunter to a 2, 4, finish for a 20-19 win.

Willie McDonald also contributed to the sensational transformation when wiping out a 15-11 deficit by skipping Darren Smith, Grant McLaren, and Andrew Caldwell to a 1, 3, 3, finish to snatch an 18-15 win over BJ Smith.

And to cap it all for the home side, all their late activity also managed to tip the scales for the bonus point with a 64-62 win on the match aggregate.

Hillside's only winning consolation came with Gary Muir skipping Adam Boath, Dougie Robinson and Kyle Newall to a 15-13 success over Kevin McFarlane.

Defending champions Pilrig got themselves back on a winning track with a much-needed 9-0 home win over newly-promoted Goldenacre with wins for the rinks skipped by Darren McKenny (+5), Gavin Smith (+4), Chris Steven (+2), and David Poole (+1).

Elsewhere, last season's runners-up Parkside crushed their Queensberry visitors 9-0 and Tanfield meted out the same treatment at home to Dudley.

Craigentinny top the table with 33 points followed by Parkside (25), Tanfield (22), Pilrig (21), Goldenacre (16), Hillside (16), Dudley (9), and Queensberry (2),

EDINBURGH & Leith are heading for the semi-final stage of the Scottish Under-25 League Cup at Coatbridge on Sunday, June 7 having added the 140-95 scalp of the previously undefeated Midlothian at Gilmerton to make it four section wins on the trot.

Wins on five rinks, skipped by Paul O'Donnell, Colin Hutchison, Derek Smith, John McDermott, and Jamie Gracie made it a great team performance, with only George Kirk losing.

O'Donnell emerged the leader of the pack with the Bainfield star breaking from 11-9 to skip Kerr McKail, Craig Ramsay, and Scott Noble to a 36-12 win over Ryan Yuill.

HOLDERS Broxburn advanced to the second round of the WLBA Rosebery Cup with a 75-43 win over Harthill at Glenmavis. Philpstoun surprised Whitburn 68-60 at Bankton Mains while Bathgate beat Armadale 91-39 at Whitburn