Danderhall win title for Midlothian

Published on Wednesday 11 June 2008 10:27

DANDERHALL captured the Roofline Scotland Inter County Top Ten title for Midlothian at Colinton after a 75-51 shot-margin victory over East Lothian champions West Barns.

The teams were squared 4-4 on rinks but handsome double-figure wins in the Pairs and Fours gave Danderhall the upper hand despite winning efforts for West Barns in the Singles and Triples.

The crowd-pulling match in the Singles saw world gold medal winner David Peacock and reigning national indoor champion Scott Kennedy produce a 24-end cracker that went right down to the wire and ended in a dramatic climax.

Kennedy launched the showpiece final with a 3 but it was Peacock who became the early pacemaker with a 7-4 lead after seven ends, although peels were called at 10-10 after 12 ends.

Peacock lost a single at the next end but then produced a run of 3, 2, 1, to 16. However, it was 17-17 five ends later. But Peacock then fired up the Danderhall support with a 2 and 1 to 20.

Kennedy new he had to win to keep the flagging West Barns challenge afloat and he conjured up a magic 1, 3 finish to pull a 21-20 win out of the hat.

That win ensured West Barns of four points as their Triple of Scott Thorburn, Calum Gordon and Gary Landells were well on their way to a 15-7 win over Kevin Twaddle, Iain Gibson and Pete Kerr.

Danderall were still full of heart however, thanks to a virtuoso performance from Billy Peacock, who set the final alight by skipping Jim Farquhar into an inspiring 15-0 lead after seven ends, and they went on to wrap up a 19-8 win over Ian Knox and Alister Kennedy.

Meanwhile, Henry Aitchison was striding up and down the Colinton green like a Colossus for Danderhall and skipped Alan Robinson, Jock Kerr and Barry Smythe to a crushing 30-7 win over Dougie Kennedy, Alister G Kennedy, Ian Thorburn and Struan Robertson.

"David (Peacock) was first off and getting pipped at the post was a blow to us, however Billy (Peacock) was red hot and Henry (Aitchison) spectacular to make this the biggest and best contribution to our history," said the proud president of Danderhall.

The morning semi-final action saw Danderhall get off the hook against Denny and Aitchison was the hero with a last-bowl conversion that rescued a 4-4 and 65-65 share to put the Midlothian champs into the final on the tie-break win of David Peacock in the Singles.

West Barns beat Blackland Mill in the other semi-final.