'Scottish' hopes are high

Rab Cant was 11-2 ahead of section leaders Valleyfield but were level playing the last and lost a two.

After a slow start at Civil Service, Mick's rink took control to win easily.

Lindsay Black got revenge for the defeat by Aberdour in the semi-final of the Alex Syme at Aberdour. It was tight throughout with Lindsay needing a three the last end.

Lenny King pushed the shot bowl onto the jack to be lying three, Ken Crombie failed and Cowdenbeath won by a shot.

Lindsay Black was away at Killermont in the Scottish Police Bowls singles. In the quarter-final he defeated Graham Hume, who is through to Ayr as the Ayrshire singles champion, 21-18. In the semi-final he played the local boy who has won the championship at Killermont three out of the last four years. He played well but local knowledge paid off. With the score at 19-16 lying one shot, Lindsay played to turn a bowl a foot for a four. He was slightly tight, moved the jack a foot and lost a two. The local went on to collect the cup. Lindsay finished third.

Only two qualify for the British finals so Lindsay is on stand by.

In the league on Wednesday night things did not go Cowdenbeath's way.

Both Robert McFarlane and Andy Johnstone were well down. Derek Easson's rink were ten down with seven to play and clawed back to be level playing the last. Dalgety Bay had a bowl a foot past the jack, Alan Leishman trailed the jack and it stuck on the Dalgety Bay bowl.

Lindsay Black threw a bowl two inches away and despite several great attempts to develop the head they lost by a shot. Off league duty for a couple of weeks now.

On Thursday, the senior top nine was played at Crossgates. This was a re-arranged game. Pairs were well down. Triples were well up but needed to score at the last end to secure victory by two.

In the rink, Mick Heenan and his side got off to a great start but were two up with Mick having last bowl with two against him. He calmly played through the head to lift one of the shots to win by one. Cowdenbeath progress to play Kinghorn, who beat them in last years final on shots.

The first round of the West Fife Top Ten took place on Friday with Cowdenbeath visiting Charlestown. The green was very tricky and it was difficult to find roads on some of the rinks. Alan Leishman lost 21-19, Jim Watson, Eric McMillan and Mitch Drysdale wwere well down but won the last few ends to lose 20-13. Robert McFarlane skipped for George Beattie and they won 28-8.

The rink of Billy Allan, Lindsay Black, Steven Hunter and Andy Johnstone won 21-5 for Cowdenbeath to progress on shots after it finishing 4-4 on points.

The mixed fours was cancelled on Saturday due to inclement weather. This had been re-arranged due to the West Fife Carnegie Trophy being cancelled due to lack of interest from clubs who could not get three rinks.

This was very disappointing as Cowdenbeath were hoping to defend their trophy. It was decided to play triples instead and the winners were new member to the club, Mary Hunter, David Hunt and Lee Connor, who played a lot of telling bowls throughout the day. Well done to them.

The Gardiner Pairs was also played on Sunday with Linda Duff and Emma Connor beating Billy Allan and Brian Simpson in the final.

The ladies raced to a three shot lead playing the last. It was a measure for first shot till Brian trailled the jack about four inches ofr a three to force an extra end. Emma threw a bowl about four inches away, which was not beat. Well done to the ladies.

Cowdenbeath are running a bus to the Scottish Finals at Northfield, Ayr, on Thursday July 27 when the ladies and gents triples are playing. It will be leaving about 06.30 hours to catch their games. It will depart Ayr about 19.00hours. £10 per person. Please add names to list in the club.

There is no bus booked for the Monday when the senior fours play. Billy Allan and Barbara McMillan will be playing in the disability Sport Scotland singles on Friday and hopefully Saturday. Good luck to all who are playing at the National finals.