COWDENBEATH Bowling Club's Babbs disappointment was strongly compensated by a great League Cup victory at the weekend, writes Jack High.

On Tuesday Billy Allan, Bobby Reekie, Lindsay Black and Derek Easson took on Headwell at Inverkeithing in the semi-final of the William Babbs Trophy.

After a tight game, with some outstanding bowls, Cowdenbeath progressed to the final 19-10 where they played defending champions Abbeyview.

Billy was committed with disability Scotland games so Bobby Reekie led, Davie McKay came in at second and Lindsay Black and Derek Easson made up the rink at Townhill.

Cowdenbeath lost a bad five early on but came back into the game. They were lying four about a foot away when Tam Hutchison played through the head and turned up a bowl five feet to get the first shot and change the length Cowdenbeath had been scoring at.

The game was level at 11-11 after 11 ends of the 15 end game when Cowdenbeath lost another 5.

Six down with two to play and Cowdenbeath picked up a three with bowls about 6"away.

At the last end, Abbeyview were lying a shot about two inches away jack high.

Lindsay and Derek had good attempts to trail the jack a foot to win the game to Bobby Reekie's bowls and their's but missed the jack by a whisker so lost 18-14.

A bit disappointing for the guys as they had played so well throughout the season to get to the final.

Roy Lawson and Robert Oliver were the other squad members who played in the 14 league games. A few telling bowls made all the difference on the day.

On Wednesday Cowdenbeath travelled to Dalgety Bay in the semi-final of the West Fife League Cup. Billy Allan, Wullie Wightman, Robert Thomson and Andy Johnstone were drawn against Nigel Walker. It was a very tight game with Cowdenbeath five up with two to play.

John Allan, Mitch Drysdale, Peter Graham and Lindsay Black were against Andy McGeorge. They were one down with three to play, having been 8-1 up then crossed 9-8.

Eric McMillan, Derek Easson, Steven Hunter and Robert McFarlane, against Paul McCaskill, were 5 down with three to play so it was very tight.

Playing the last end, Andy was 8 up with his rink playing really well and Andy playing a few really outstanding bowls, including drawing to within six inches of the ditch to get a shot beating the bowl in the ditch.

Robert was 8 down, having lost a four late on with some close heads. Lindsay's rink were 2 up.

The last end on that rink was the decider with the shot changing eight times during the end. Front end were very good, lying a couple of shots and a back bowl. Peter Graham then drew first shot touching the jack at the side of it, Tom Pearson, third for Dalgety Bay, pushed that bowl two feet to lie shot. Lindsay pushed that bowl through to be lying four, Andy then trailed the jack about 18" to be lying one with three other bowls in the head.

Cowdenbeath only had John Allan's back bowl which was second. Lindsay dropped short trying to 'dirty' (and not give a shot away) the road but Andy McGeorge then trailed the jack again only for it to stick on John's bowl.

An inch either side and he would have scored two for the draw. Nothing changed on the other rinks. Dalgety Bay conceded their game against Andy as they were not going to score an eight at the end. Robert lost by ten but Cowdenbeath progressed 4-2 to the final at Townhill on Saturday (after the Babbs final).

Aberdour used home advantage and beat hot favourites, Inverkeithing, 6-0.

This was the first time there had not been a first division team in the final. Cowdenbeath got off to a great start with Lindsay's rink 8-3 up after 3, Andy Johnstone's were 12-3 up after 8 and Robert McFarlane's rink were 12-2 up after 8.

The rain and drizzle made the green a bit slippy but Cowdenbeath mastered the conditions better. Eric McMillan, Derek Easson, Steven Hunter and Robert McFarlane beat Jim Smith's rink 23-14. Andy Johnstone was crossed at one point but came good at the end with Alan Moncur (in for Billy Allan), Wullie Wightman and Rab Thomson beating Brian Kelly's rink 18-17.

John Allan, Mitch Drysdale, Peter Graham and Lindsay Black beat Alex Paterson's rink 22-13.

A great finish to the season bringing West Fife silverware to the Bowling Green Street club for another year. Well done to all players, supporters and selectors this year who did a great job.