Bowls: Donaldson’s terrific trio edge thriller

The Donaldson-skipped trio represented the Edinburgh Bowling League Committee and it was a popular triumph when the 2010 Tait Trophy champion and his front two made all the running in the final to edge a 7-6 thriller over Neil Carr, Willie King and Malcolm Thomson of Goldenacre.

Goldenacre were the defending champions and had put up a strong show to reach the final for a second time, but a change of script and probable outcome was immediately signalled when the ‘High Heid Yins’ of the EBL carded a magic three on the opening end.

It was early days though and two ends later the destination of the title was in the balance at 3-3. However, Donaldson was the player on fire and he proved it with a sizzling count of four that charged up the  competitive spirit of his league secretary and president.

But Goldenacre were far from a spent force and Thomson and company brought the final back to a knife edge with a 1, 2 fight back to 7-6 only to be frustrated by running out of ends.

The EBL trio had signalled the strength of their title challenge with a highly charged 10-1 semi-final demolition of John Taylor, Tam Carberry and Craig Ross who had travelled though from Falkirk Adrian.

While Goldenacre impressed the watching banking with a battling 9-6 win over fancied Blackhall triple Brian Lockhart, Steven Kirk and George Kirk.

The Triples that failed to reach the last four stage included: Kevin Hunter, Scott Kennedy and Billy Mellors; Kevin Thomson, Angus Blair and Alister Kennedy; Paul Millar, Graham Pringle and Paul O’Donnell; Robert Campbell, Ian Forbes and Martin Wylie; and Ian Higgenbotham, Laurence Robertson and Stan Medhurst.

Tanfield hopes were high that legend figures Willie Paul and Mal Higgenbotham could deliver a host club celebration but both failed to deliver.