Central treble for Dunblane

Jun 3 2009 by John Miller, Stirling Observer Wednesday

DUNBLANE bowlers had much cause to celebrate on Monday evening when they scooped no less than three of the six Central Association championship titles on offer at a sun-drenched Cambusbarron green.

Steven Eddie's victory in the singles was backed up by further successes for Dunblane's senior fours and then by their triples, writes John Miller.

Elsewhere, Polmaise triumphed in an enthralling pairs contest, Bridge of Allan emerged victorious in the fours, while the Tillicoultry club supplied the winner of the junior singles.

The singles contest attracted much attention where 42 year old Steven Eddie lined up against Doune Castle's Manny Cruz who held an early 7-2 advantage after the opening four ends.

However an unbroken 3,1,1,1,1,2,1 run by Eddie, quickly followed by 1,1,4, put the impressive Dunblane player within sight of victory at 18-9. Although Cruz did reply with a 3,2, three ends later it was all over as Steven sealed victory with two on the 18th end and a single on the 20th to make it 21-15.

In the junior singles contest Tillicoultry's Blair McMillan survived a tough test from Michael Airnes from the Denny Club, to win 21-17. Trailing 16-17 after 19 ends, McMillan produced a strong finish carding a 3,1,1 to win 21-17.

Polmaise pair Mark and Iain Bone had to go to an extra end before seeing off a tough challenge from Alva's Jim Ferguson and Eugene Greasley.

Peels at 10-10, 14-14 and then 16-16 after the allotted 17 ends, Mark and Iain scored the all important shot at the extra end to earn the Central silverware. Mark and Iain are also the current holders of the Stirling County pairs title.

Triples glory went to Dunblane's Wallace Clarke, Sandy Provan andDavid Cuthell with a hard-earned 15-12 victory over Cambusbarron's David Ferguson, David Ferguson jnr and Stephen Whitton.

On the road to the final the Dunblane bowlers had survived three extra ends, but on this occasion they completed the task at the 15th end carding a 2,2,1 finish in the process.

In a game of two halves, Bridge of Allan, who trailed 1-9 after nine ends, came storming back to card an impressive 2,1,5,2,1,1,0,5 run to defeat Cambusbarron 18-10 in the fours final.

The victorious Bridge of Allan team comprised Brian Cockburn, Stuart Muir, Robert McGown and Ian Anderson, while Cambusbarron were represented by John Monteith, Craig Green, Barrie Liddell and Jim Liddell.

Dunblane's third success of the evening came in the senior fours contest with George Storrar, Gavin Bruce, Alan Davidson and Bill Hardie emerging extra end winners over Bannockburn.

Apart from the second end when they led 2-1, Dunblane trailed right till the final end when they scored two shots and forced an extra end.

And it was the Dunblane players who survived the nail-biting finish to win 14-13 over Jim McDonald, Robert Scott, Hugh Milne and Dick Kennedy.

The championship finals received sponsorship from J & G Mossman, Parkhead Road, Alloa.

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