Bowls: Cambusbarron triumph in league final

Jul 11 2012 by John Miller, Stirling Observer Wednesday

FOLLOWING a superb final last Friday evening Cambusbarron became the new District Nine League champions with victory over Doune Castle.

Cambusbarron held the lead for the entire match, played at Balfron, and finished with three points and 39 shots to Doune Castle’s one point and 36 shots.

However, the outcome was in doubt right to the final deliveries after the Doune Castle men staged a thrilling, late fightback.

Bill Brown, Henry Stark, Lee Neilson and David Ross were first to finish with a hard-earned 25-22 win against Doune’s Michael Caven, Ian Morrison, John Nicol and Willie Nicol.

Over on the next rink both skips made telling final deliveries.

Firstly Doune’s Craig Watson removed a shot bowl to put the match on a knife-edge with the scores locked on points and shots.

However, Stephen Whitton calmly stepped up and drew the first shot to seal a memorable victory for the Cambusbarron Club.

John Ferguson, John Gairns, Garry Brown and Stephen Whitton finished 14-14 against Paul Monteith, David Armstrong, Rae Duncan and Craig Watson.

Earlier in the week Cambusbarron had secured their final berth with victory over Dunblane, while Doune Castle saw off Bannockburn in their semi-final.

The league sponsors were Alloa Stirling Sales Room.

Cambusbarron last won the league title back in 1989, the first year of the contest, when they defeated Riverside. Playing in that team was John Ferguson, who also lined up in Friday’s final.

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

THE opening matches in the Champion of Champions contest get underway tonight (Wednesday) at Cambusbarron.

Pat Martin (Bannockburn) plays Craig Watson (Doune Castle), David Mathieson plays Aaron Hazel (Polmaise), Grant Frogley (Borestone) plays Ian Ferrier (Causewayhead), Alan McEwan (Cambusbarron) plays Ian Gillies (Riverside), Max Taylor (Kippen) plays Richard Guy (Bridge of Allan) and G Grant (Airthrey Spa) takes on Fraser Gray (Spittalmyre).

The winners line up in the quarter-finals on Friday, with John Bryson (Livilands) versus John Miller (Stirling) completing the field.

AIRTHREY SPA

THE annual match against Bridge of Allan for custody of the Aiton Bowl was played at the Airthrey Spa green on Tuesday of last week. It resulted in victory for the visitors by 22 shots.

Scores (Airthrey Spa skips first): E Morgan 17, K Wilkie 7; I MacFarlane 9, D Buchan 13; I Watt 5, W Guy 22; C Thrower 10, A Greasley 14; K Collier 17, J McKenzie 20; J Stout 11, J Grant 15. Totals: Airthrey Spa 69, Bridge of Allan 91.

RIVERSIDE

SCORES from the club’s recent match against Causewayhead were (Riverside skips first): J Purdie 9, B Morrison 32; I Gillies 21, I Kirkpatrick 7; T Findlay 15, G Williamson 16; R Cairns 11, I Carnachan 24. Totals: Riverside 56, Causewayhead 79.

SPITTALMYRE

SCORES from the annual match with Udston BC were (Spittalmyre skips first): C Gibson 10, D Ashwood 11; A Johnstone 6, M Dempster 10; A Mason 7, W Brown 7; A Begley 11, I Wildman 11; A McLean 14, J Cullen 13. Totals: Spittalmyre 48, Udston 52.

COUNTY FINALS

IN LAST week’s article on the finalists in this year’s Stirling County Championship finals, we published the wrong names for the Bonnybridge BC rink who will play Adrian BC. The team is Jim McMurtrie, Tom Horn and John Carson. Sorry for any confusion.