Garioch Bowling Club siblings compete in home internationals
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Carla and Jason Banks of the Garioch Indoor Bowling Club had some great performances in the under 27 home internationals, writes Mike Barron.
Both won as skips against Wales and Ireland but came up short against England.
Scotland came third out of four in the combined score of both gents and ladies international in the under 27 age group UK matches in Belfast.
Because of a two-year loss due to Covid, it was decided to raise the maximum age of players from 25 to 27. This gave Jason Banks an opportunity to play for the final time.
Carla Banks also took part as skip throughout in the Ladies team. She won 30-17 against Wales, 19-15 against Ireland, but lost heavily against England 11-24.
At 22 years of age last month, she has a good chance of breaking the record for caps, if she keeps the same form, and the age limit is retained. No decision has been taken on this issue.
The final position for the ladies was that there was a three-way tie for points. England took the first place with four points and plus 76 shots, with Scotland +7, and third Wales -18.
Jason, also as skip, beat Wales 24-11, 19-15 against Ireland, but he too lost 14-20 to England. Spectators present said the match was closer than the score suggested, with some fine drawing from Jason to keep the score respectable.
Scotland finished second to Ireland in the gents table, having the same two wins, but an inferior overall score of -5 against Wales, +21 was the difference.
England were surprisingly beaten into third place, defeating only Scotland. They lost to both Wales and Ireland but the adjustments to their rinks may have been a factor.
Combining both gents and ladies scores England were first, Wales second, Scotland third and Ireland, despite home advantage, finished fourth.
All international players, at any age, normally look to the next full British Isles Championship in spring 2023, but plans are up in the air as a working party are considering: “the future approach needs of dual gender, while preserving the tradition of the Home Nations competing against one another”. Meantime there are the separate contests for gents and ladies.
