Bowls: Porty’s hopes in the balance

Portobello’s hopes of making the promotion playdown action of the 
indoor bowls league cup were harmed as they dropped a point at home to Dunfermline 
club Headwell, writes STEWART MEIKLE.

Home hopes were high that Portobello would complete a 
hat-trick of opening wins and take a grip of Division 1C as clear leaders however they stumbled to a 78-78 share that leaves them joint top with their victims, albeit with a games less played.

“We are still in the driving seat but will soon lose control if we fail to win our home games and we were 18 shots adrift at one stage so perhaps it was a point saved,” said team manager Robert Wood.

A mixed performance by the home side saw the rinks skipped by George Johnston and Chris Steven produce battling displays to win their 
respective games but the 
defeat of Andrew Caldwell and team captain Stuart Betts was disappointing.

The phase scoring saw the home side just doing enough to edge the first seven ends, 25-22 but Headwell dominated the second phase 35-22 
before Porty showed good fighting qualities to win the third phase 31-21.

The threat to Portobello is likely to come from the Dunfermline clubs as Abbeyview are now only two points off the pace following a good 
85-78 win over Tweedbank at Galashiels.