Bowls: Mackintosh doesn't fancy being Tait bridesmaid again

Published on Wednesday 10 August 2011 07:42

Scott MACKINTOSH of London Road Foundry bowls club staged a spectacular escape to victory against Andrew Caldwell of Craigentinny in the second round of the Broughton Properties and Kelly Joiners sponsored Edinburgh & Leith Tait Trophy, played in front of a big crowd at Mayfield BC.

Mackintosh, runner-up in the finals of 2003 and 2008, saw the exit light flashing strongly as the 40-year-old stood 14-4 behind 25-year-old Caldwell, who was playing superbly.

Caldwell, runner-up in the 2006 final, lay 3 at the next and would have moved out of sight if getting them onto the card however Macintosh smashed the jack out of play and sparked his revival with a 3 to 7 on the replay. "It was as if someone had flicked a switch," he said of his explosive change of fortune that saw Macintosh add 2, 1, 2, 3 to cross 15-14 then triumph in an epic battle to the line to win 21-18.

Mayfield were fortunate to have the two major box office matches of the night with 17 times Slateford champion Robert Marshall aiming to land a fourth Tait title and in action against Colin Cochrane of Merchiston. Cochrane led 12-5 before Marshall showed his class with a run of 1, 1, 4, 2 to cross 13-12. However, the Merchiston champion came again to lead 15-14.

Marshall thrilled his support with a second full house 4 to 18 then added a double to 20 before the loss of three singles saw him answer that growing menace with a single on the 25th end to win 21-18.

Beechwood champion Tom Headspeath was a player of Hamilton Trophy status in his heyday and he conjured up memories of that kind of class when answering pressure at 14-13 with a 2, 4, 1 run to beat BJ Smith of Hillside 21-13.

Andrew McKendrick, the 44-year-old champion of Currie, was the losing finalist in the 2001 Edinburgh Open at Balgreen and stirred memories of that level of form with a commanding 21-14 win over Peter Whitten of Dudley.

Bainfield champion Craig Paterson was against the collar at 16-15 down to Grant Pagan of West End, but impressed with a big 4, 2 finish to 21 while Keith Taylor of Summerside was in sparkling form to crush Euan Craig of Pilrig, 21-4.

Sadly, the integrity of the 113-year-old Tait Trophy continues to suffer self-inflicted wounds from member clubs, the latest being two walkovers that saw Derek McLean (Postal) and Larry Sorrell (Wardie) without opposition.

Meanwhile, the Ladies of Colinton BC have won the EWBA Top Ten title for a seventh time with an 8-0 points win over Brunstane in the final at Sighthill. Sandra Slater led the charge with a 21-10 win over Helen Prentice in the Singles while the other team members were, Sheila Hill and Helen Alexander (Pairs), Marion Adamson, Ann Matthew and Cathy Stark (Triples), Annette Campbell, Marion Murray, Carol McRae and Nan Tennant (Fours).