Bowls: Another title for Nisbet as Portobello crown is secured

GARY NISBET has captured the Singles crown at Portobello IBC to add to the Craigentinny outdoor title he won last year.

Nisbet – a migrant from East Lothian bowling circles – beat two-time champion Ian Fleming in the final 21-7.

The semi-final action had flagged up the hot streak of form Nisbet was in as his expected tough assignment against the formidable Scott Mackintosh turned out to be one-way-traffic in the shape of a 21-1 runaway.

Fleming had also been in good semi-final form and his ambition to achieve a championship treble maintained momentum with an excellent 21-12 win over David Hoskin.

The ladies' Singles title was retained by Issy Dixon and in fine style as the defending champion held most of the aces in her 21-13 triumph over 2007 national junior singles champion Nicola Barclay.

Dixon beat Marianne McGarrity 21-12 in her semi-final while Barclay beat Rosemary Mackintosh 21-8.

The battle for the Under 25 Junior Singles title featured two Craigentinny teenagers and the honours went to Jamie Reid who was in sparkling form to outshine Daniel Gormley, 21-13.

Meanwhile, the Portobello club enjoyed a title success in the finals of the Seniors Central Scotland Championships event played at West Lothian IBC with Jim McLeod and Ronnie Douglas landing the Triples crown.

It was a dramatic triumph achieved after and extra end against Peter Ball of the host club who had conjured up a two-bowl take out that yielded him five shots for a peel that took the final into a tiebreak. Porty enjoyed a second success with Jimmy Marshall and George Gray scoring a comfortable win over Tweedbank in the final of the Pairs.

And to round off a great day for Edinburgh the Singles crown was captured by Willie McIntosh of Bainfield who beat Dougie Copland of Perth, 21-9.