Bowlers from Kemnay come out on top in two competitions
Kemnay bowlers did the double by winning the Aberdeen and Kincardine Top 10 and the Knock Out Fours competitions, writes Mike Barron.
Kemnay deprived Harlaw of their double, who won the Benachie League in July.
It is the first time Kemnay Bowling Club has won the Top 10 competition and they will now qualify for the Scottish Championship next year. This will be a great celebration in its 100th year.
The Top 10 features singles, pairs, triples and fours, and in the final against Laurencekirk they won every match. All scores were decisive. The match was played on the Inverurie green.
All winners get two points for a win. The final shot score was Kemnay 77, Laurencekirk 42 .
In the singles, Billy Thom won 21-12, while the pairs saw Sean Aitken and Ally Mitchell prevail 17-11.
In the triples, Jim Grant, Keiran Jack and Liam Thom won 20-9, and in the fours, Liam Beattie, Mark Hay, Michael Williams and Jordan Thom triumphed 19-10.
In reaching the final they did, however, have some fortune. They won 6-2 against Stonehaven, drew 4-4 with Inverurie, but moved on because of their shot difference – 65-60.
In the semi final they beat Tarves 5-3, by winning two, losing one and drawing another.
Laurencekirk said luck was on their side in the first two matches. They drew with Pitmedden by winning two matches but went through with 67 shots against 60.
Next came Methlick, again four points, but a convincing 13 shots difference 75-62. Kincardine O’Neil admitted they had a poor match and lost heavily in three games. The score was 6-2 in favour of Kemnay.
Next came the final, and records available show few sides in last 20 years have won like Kemnay 8-0.
In the Knock Out Fours final, Kemnay beat Harlaw for their first title in 33 years.
Harlaw started well leading 6-5, but the game turned at the eighth end, when Kemnay scored five shots, with Aitken, Billy Thom, Mitchell and Liam Thom all drawing well.
Kemnay kept the pressure on, although they lost two shots at 13th. The score then 13-10. Skip Liam Thom was drawing well and the match was won with single shots at the last two ends.
To reach the final Kemnay and Harlaw had great wins in the semi-final. Kemnay beat Kincardine O’Neil 21-6, while Harlaw were never behind defeating a strong Banchory side 18-5.
To reach this stage Kemnay (L Thom) beat Rothienorman 20-10. The defeated side, skipped by Ian Moir, had players at the Scottish Playdowns last month.
Harlaw were hot favourites against Kincardine O’Neil, and they did not disappoint with skip Ian Jaffrey drawing well to win 21-12.
