Scotland fall to England at the final hurdle

BOWLS: Defending champions Scotland were pipped at the post for the Hilton Trophy by England in their attempt to retain the Home International Series title at Perth.

Both Scotland and England went into the concluding match with two wins under their belt but while Scotland had 91 shots to their credit England had 127, and honours were shared at 99-99 – thereby handing England the title.

Scotland's three winning rinks were skipped by Graeme Archer, Darren Burnett and Paul Foster, while Graham Robertson, Willie Wood and Alex Marshall all finished on the minus side.

East Lothian's Foster and his rink of Iain McLean, Tommy Mann and Scott Kennedy finished the series unbeaten and with the best record from the four countries, while Midlothian's Archer and his rink of Brian Irvine, Stewart Anderson and Jim McLarrie were the only other Scottish rink who finished with a 100 per cent record.

Ireland took third place and Wales the wooden spoon after they also finished with a drawn result, 112-112.