Bowls: Bathgate topple Kirkliston in final of Top Ten tourny

Bathgate’s 5-3 victory in an extremely tense final played at Queensferry BC also deprived the reigning national champions of going for a record  three-in-a-row triumphs in the Scotland wide event.

The result is rightly judged as a form upset given the make-up of a Kirkliston team that  included current Scotland  skips Grant Logan and Neil Speirs, plus three current trial players in Greg Logan, Steven Forrest, and Junior cap Calum Logan.

However, Bathgate were more than entitled to be sharing the stage with their star-studded  rivals with WL Master Cameron Greer and high calibre performers like Bryan Cooper, Billy  Arnott, Diz Drysdale, Stuart Johnston, the McCormick brothers David and Alan, forming a solid and formidable backbone.

Wins in the Pairs and Triples plus a peel in the Fours delivered the title to Bathgate in what is an extra special season as they are celebrating their 150th Anniversary Year.

Kirkliston snatched a 12-12 peel in the Fours against Johnston with Grant Logan carding a 3 at the last.

Bathgate ruled in the Pairs with Cooper and Alan McCormick producing a peak performance to outshine Forrest and Speirs, converting a 9-4 lead into an impressive 15-9 victory. The win points in the Singles also looked to be heading Bathgate’s way when Drysdale conjured up a magic run to win 16-13 against Raymond Logan.

Raymond Logan brought Kirkliston roaring back to clinch a 21-16 victory in 22 ends.

Arnott’s rink then took the honours 14-12 in the Triples.