Morayshire Indoor Bowling Association take on Banffshire counterparts in charity match in aid of Alzheimer’s research
The annual charity match between Morayshire and Banffshire indoor bowling teams raised £630 for an Alzheimer’s charity.
The good cause was nominated by Morayshire president Craig Fletcher and the event was hosted by Hopeman Bowling Club.
Morayshire skips Lee Denoon and Neil Mathers started brilliantly for the hosts with Mathers leading 6 shots to 0 after three ends and Denoon counting five shots on the second end to also lead 6-0.
Experienced Banffshire skip Willie Beaton got his team going, scoring six shots on the fifth end after which Beaton was always in the ascendency winning four of the last five ends to win by 19 shots to 10.
Mathers continued to play well leading 12-3 after nine ends, only for Banffshire skip Davy Bell to score five shots on the tenth end to make it a four-shot game with two ends to play.
Mathers scored a double followed by a single to win 15-8, meaning Banffshire led by two shots going into the second session.
Banffshire president John Watt won the first four ends to lead 8-0, while Jim Pirie kept the hosts in contention leading 9-3 after five ends.
With Watt leading 11-6 and Pirie leading 15-6 after ten ends on each carpet it was all set up for a thrilling finale.
Banffshire won the penultimate ends on both carpets to lead by one shot overall entering the last end. Morayshire skip Keith Lambert played a superb last end scoring three shots to give the advantage to the hosts.
Jim Pirie’s team set the end up nicely with drawing bowls and it was left to Banffshire skip Alan Howard with the final play of the match to attempt to win the game for the visitors. Despite a valiant effort with the final bowl, he could only manage to get the second shot as Morayshire counted a single to win overall 50 shots to 47 and a first victory in three attempts.
The event was sponsored by Ardmore and senior distillery manager Alastair Longwell presented the prizes to the winning rinks.