Morayshire Indoor Bowling Association’s Ed Beattie Memorial Charity Cup reaches semi-finals stage with holders Burghead marching on
It was touch-and-go in all four quarter-finals of Morayshire Indoor Bowling Association’s big cup competition.
A Charity Cup held in memory of long-serving bowls stalwart Ed Beattie reached the last eight, with some tight contests.
Forres Royal British Legion hosted Hopeman A, where Alistair Robertson finished strongly for the visitors scoring eight shots in four ends to win 16-5.
Harry Milne showed all his experience for the home club for a 17-9 success to cut the gap to three going into the second session.
Zander Main increased the Hopeman advantage to seven shots with a 10-6 win but Neil Mathers brought the home club back into contention leading 13-5 going into the final end. With the visitors lying shot and match, Mathers delivered the perfect bowl to guide his club into the semi-final.
Birnie held the upper hand at home to Moray BC after the first session, Jim Hinshelwood and Bryce Milne both securing wins 13-9 and 11-8. George Grant looked to turn the match in favour of the Elgin club winning 11-6, but David Parry scored an all important four shots in the penultimate end as Birnie held on to progress.
Holders Burghead were in trouble after the first session against coastal rivals Lossie BC with Rod Sutherland and Jutta Hewett both in impressive form for the visitors to build up a 10-shot advantage.
The Brochers showed their metal in the second session with Ryan Gordon cutting the deficit to four shots, winning 13-7. It all came down to the final game and home skip David Ross won five consecutive ends to give the holders a three-shot advantage.
Lossie won the penultimate end to keep their hopes alive but Ross held his nerve in the last end as the holders progress to another semi-final.
Alves and Forres Victoria played out a terrific first session, Graeme Taylor winning 8 – 7 for the hosts and Paul Coutts 13 – 12 for the Forres club.
Colin Taylor and Charlie Watt tied their game 12 shots each, and Mike Anderson won the important ends in his game to run out a 21-11 winner as Alves won through.
They will take on the Forres RBL in the second semi-final while Birnie and holders Burghead go head-to-head in the first tie.
