Garioch team fall short of runner up spot in bowling’s North League
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Garioch had to win this last match by just one shot to claim the runner up title but Buchan had other plans and won the crucial match 79-76 writes Mike Barron.
The match was close throughout, but early losses were the downfall of the team.
Brian Reid, skip in the side said: “ While this was a disappointment we had a reasonably good season winning four and losing four , twice to league winners Elgin, to Fraserburgh, who now take the runner’s up spot, and then unfortunately to Buchan on Saturday”.
The final match against Buchan started slowly, and shots were lost.
The four rinks just failed to catch up, but with two ends to go, the Garioch were just three shots behind, and that is how it finished, 76-79.
The season prior to Saturday, with Fraserburgh having played its final game Elgin played seven, won six, lost one, 12 points with +90 shots, ( winner of league before last match)
Fraserburgh played eight, won five, lost thee, 10 points with + 88, while Garioch had played seven, won four, lost three , 8 points and +88 shots.
The figures showed that with one game left, Garioch had to win by just one shot to take the runner up spot but they failed by only three shots.
Elgin have some fine players including Scottish Internationalist, and World Bowls singles player, Mike Stepney, who probably is having one of his best seasons.
Elgin, now league winners, beat Garioch 87-62 at home, and won again at Inverurie 84-70.
Honours were even against Fraserburgh who won 97-58 at home, but lost 64-106 at Garioch.
Stonehaven were well beaten at home 62-87 by Garioch, and were hammered 48-116, when all four Garioch skips won well.
Stonehaven never got the run of the carpet, and suffered throughout with some large scores at some ends.
Garioch v Buchan are often close matches, but the home team struck early, and were 10 shots up at end 3.
They built up a good lead throughout, and finished 91-60.
Now came the crunch final match, with Fraserburgh’s season finished with five wins.
Garioch had to come out with at least this a one shot win.
Scores were even throughout the early ends in all four rinks, but Buchan took a three shot lead into the final end, and won 69-66.
The result at Stonehaven was a first win for Stonehaven, who had played seven, and lost to everyone but Elgin, league winners before the match, had a nightmare game and lost 77-69.
Asked to explain the defeat, they were unable to explain the score, other than to say “perhaps it was with the knowledge we had already won the league and the pressure was off”.
Final comment from Brian Reid of Garioch “roll on next season”.
