Bowls: County West lose at Renfrew

Jun 27 2012 by John Miller, Stirling Observer Wednesday

STIRLING County West brought the curtain down on another Hamilton Trophy campaign last Saturday with a narrow six-shot defeat by Renfrewshire West.

In their final Scottish Cities and Counties championship match at the Renfrew green, which was delayed for 30 minutes due to surface water, County West were in contention for the entire encounter.

Trailing by one shot at the halfway stage and just eight behind with 15 ends completed, County could not quite close the gap over the home straight and ended 107-113 adrift with three winning rinks.

Dougie Kerr and company defeated Jonathon Ross 26-15, while Danny McCormick’s men won 25-16 over Drew Stobo. Also winning was David Stewart’s rink with a 17-16 triumph over Sandy Wotherspoon.

Sandy Deans’ four lost 15-19 to C McKay; Jason Williams and company lost 14-20 to Ronnie McConnachie; while Derek Logie’s men crashed 10-27 to Derek Moffat.

County finished the series on eight points with four victories from their seven matches. Qualifying from the West Section were Ayrshire North and Lanarkshire West. Quarter-finals are scheduled for Saturday, July 7.

KENNARD TROPHY

GRAHAMSTON BC won the Kennard Trophy. In the recent Stirling County tournament Grahamston bowlers amassed a winning total of eight points and 63 shots. Runner-up was Denny BC with eight plus 25.

BOUNDARIES REVIEW

STIRLING’S bowlers could soon be facing new challenges in the Wee County if a radical proposal gets the nod from Bowls Scotland.

A recently published boundaries review includes a proposed amalgamation of the gents’ District Nine (Stirling) and District Six (Clackmannan And Kinross) to form a new District Nine. The new district would not include Balfron, Kinross, Orwell and Valleyfield clubs.

The proposal is just part of a complete restructuring of districts, involving Scotland’s 885 clubs, by a four-member boundaries committee set up following the formation of Bowls Scotland in 2010.

The review’s objectives included levelling out the number of clubs in each district and ensuring a fairer and more equitable process for clubs winning through their stages to the national championships. It also aims to provide a more efficient management of administration.

The full boundaries review can be viewed on the Bowls Scotland website and an information desk will be at the national championships at Ayr from July 25-29.

Clubs are being invited to express their views, with the consultation process scheduled to close on August 14. The boundaries committee will put forward their proposals for consideration by the Bowls Scotland board in October.

SPITTALMYRE

WINNERS of last Sunday’s mixed pairs competition were M Mason and June Dowell, while runners-up were Kathleen Sharp and John Phimister.

Losing semi-finalists were Margaret McEnearney and Andy McLean, along with A Robertson and Harvey Robertson.

TOP FIFTEEN

WITH first-round ties being played this week, the result of a preliminary match was Dunblane 10, Livilands 2. In a rearranged match Callander defeated Kippen by four shots.

BRIDGE OF ALLAN

BLAIRGOWRIE bowlers visited the Bridge of Allan green recently and won by two shots in a three-rink match. Scores (Bridge of Allan skips first): J McKenzie 10, S Saunders 20; R Guy 16, C Graham 15; A Forrest 17, J Campbell 10. Totals: Bridge of Allan 43, Blairgowrie 45.

DISTRICT NINE LEAGUE

FOLLOWING last Friday’s final series of matches, the semi-final line up is: Bannockburn will play Doune Castle at Cambusbarron green, while Dunblane take on Cambusbarron at Causewayhead green. Both matches go ahead on Friday at 7pm.

BORESTONE

ON SUNDAY Borestone Bowling Club held their gents’ pairs. The winners were Aaron Hazel and Garry Malcolmson from Polmaise and runners-up were Lee McCormack and Hugh Letford from Stirling. Losing semi-finalists were Billy Stewart and Rab Johnstone from Riverside and Tich Doran and George Podmore from Borestone.

BRUCE SECTION

PWDLShPts

Bannockburn

128044016

Cambusbarron

12804-1416

Stirling

126156013

Borestone

126153113

Bridge of Allan

12606-2412

Airthrey Spa

12408-348

Balfron

12408-598

WALLACE SECTION

Dunblane

128043916

Doune Castle

127143215

Polmaise

126152513

Spittalmyre

12615-2413

Livilands

12606212

Riverside

12417-239

Causewayhead

12309-516