North-east bowlers lose out in the semi-final of the Scottish Bowling Cup
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Aberdeen & Kincardine Bowling Association failed to make the semi-final of the Scottish Bowling Cup, writes Mike Barron.
The result:- Edinburgh 119 Aberdeen & Kincardine 108 a shot difference of 11.
Two last minute changes had to take place with both Tom Dow (Kincardine o’Neil), and Derek Watson (Belhelvie), going down with Covid.
It meant a shuffle round to have balanced rinks.
The result could and should have been different.
A & K were 20 shots up on Edinburgh after two ends.
Early on they could have been 30 shots up had Daniel Gormley (Craigentinny-Edinburgh)) not pulled back five shots at a couple of ends. Edinburgh pre match, with their current and present internationalists, were firm favourites for a win, but at end 9 the northern spectators at St Andrews were very hopeful of a win.
All six rinks were up, but from then, it was not a better performance that helped Edinburgh level, but loose ends from three rinks resulting in Edinburgh scoring.
In addition a shower of rain changed the green’s performance, and the scoring.
The saying “ the wheels then came off” would be appropriate as to many ends were a fight to score, when drawing earlier was better.
It was end 17 of the 21 when Edinburgh moved ahead.
Now it was a fight to get back in the game.
The scores of the rinks speak for themselves, three rinks were up with three down and two rinks were down with a large difference!
Colin Banks (Inverurie) had only his second loss of the season 14-23.
He lost only once in the seven league matches.
He had Keith Rose (Harlaw), Mike Collister (Pitmedden) and David Keith (Inverbervie) in his rink, and while they started well the rain changed their drawing, and Colin Banks was fighting to score.
He went down by 9 shots.
Andy Duncan (Tarves), who has had had a good season, was hammered after a third of the match.
End after end he was up against it.
Scoring was hard, the rink while tricky was being found by the opposition, not the A & K four.
The final rink score 10-32… a shot difference of 20 with the match difference of only 11 shots.
The third losing rink was that of James Harper (Rothienorman).
His rink started well, but lost in the final ends.
Only at a few ends did they draw well failing to draw well at several ends.
Edinburgh kept the pressure up, and Harper lost 11-22.
The selectors have stuck to Steven Fraser (Pitmedden) as a skip.
It paid off this time. Mike Mennie, of the same club, had some fine drawing throughout, with Fraser keeping on top of the opposition throughout the rain spell.
The rink had a fine win of 26-19.
Matt Cambell (Rothienorman) has had some narrow defeats in previous matches, but the rink clicked this time, winning well.
From the start they scored, and this seemed to settle the four.
The middle part of the match was very even but Campbell’s superior drawing resulted in a fine win 19- 14.
The final winning rink was that of Jason Banks (Inverurie).
From the first end his rink of John Simpson (Laurencekirk), Geoff Allan (Pitmedden) and Marshall Presley (Tarves) had an outstanding quality performance and then throughout.
The score crept along with only a few ends being lost.
Always in control Jason Banks finished with the best score of the day,a great win 25-9.
The team were very disappointed at losing the match, especially after a great start but A & K can be proud of winning five of their league matches
and qualifying for the quarter final.
Only the treasurer of A & K is happier because the team would have had to hire a coach, stay overnight in Ayr, before playing the semi-final at
10am next day.
With a potential final that afternoon the expenditure of the £3000 will not now take place!
