Nairn Bowling Club team wins Forres open triples event
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A Nairn trio won Forres Bowling Club's open triples tournament.
After a closely fought, exciting final, the Tom Ross & Sons-sponsored event was won by Allan Cameron, George Steven and Scott McLean. Their final was against Kevin McWilliam, Davie Petrie and Lindsey Petrie from The Elgin Bowling Club.
The Elgin team started the better, winning three of the initial four ends to lead 4-2. Nairn fought back, winning three ends in a row to go 8-4 in front approaching the halfway stage. This was an excellent, but low-scoring game. The Elgin won six of the next seven ends as the 15th and final end began with the sides all square at 10-10. Nairn got next to the jack early on and began playing defensive blockers. All The Elgin could do was to try and move the jack, with Scott playing strategic, behind-the-head bowls. Nairn held on to secure the trophy.
Scott McLean could scarcely believe his ears on Saturday afternoon when he was told that, despite having been beaten by Sam Morrison and Dean Dobbs, his team had finished runners-up in Section A. A major factor was John Matthews' final bowl of the day which won him his match against Alex Porter. Alex was sitting in the second spot in the Section before the shot was played!
Dean Dobbs' Forres team won Section A with three victories in a row after losing their initial game.
John 'Tucker' Graham, also Nairn B C, strolled to victory and topped Section B in style by winning all of his games. Alan Paull finished in the runner-up spot. Two heavy wins followed his pair of early setbacks.
Another Nairn Bowling Club side, skipped by David Towersey, went even better. They won Section C at a canter with the best shot difference of any side on the first day. Brian Riddell (Forres) overcame an early setback to progress in second place.
Forres' Skibo McKenzie surprised everyone, including himself, by winning Section D, a group which included the holders, Paul Coutts' team. Lindsey Petrie was runner-up in the Section. A draw in her final game meant that she just pipped Brian Caldwell's side to the second spot.
Sunday's quarter-finals were played as a straight knockout.
Dean Dobbs started well against Lindsey Petrie, winning the first handful of ends to lead 7-0. The tide then turned and Lindsey won six in a row to go 8-7 in front. A five at the penultimate end killed the game in Lindsey's favour.
Unfortunately Brian Riddell had to withdraw from his team, so Marjory McCarthy stepped up to take over as skip. With beginner Adam Nicolson in sparkling form, the team raced to an 18-0 advantage over Tucker Graham. Tucker won four of the final six ends, but it was far too late.
The match between David Towersey and Alan Paull was a close affair until 14 shots in five ends from the tenth end.
The inexperienced, but competitive, Skibo McKenzie matched Scott McLean all the way until losing half a dozen shots over a pair of ends near the death.
A six at the third end put Lindsey Petrie in total control of her semi-final against Marjory McCarthy. Marjory started to fight back, but losing another couple of counts put the game beyond her reach.
The all-Nairn semi-final between Scott McLean and David Towersey was pretty much a one-sided affair. Scott led 15-0 before David finally grabbed a pair of shots at the eighth end. The game finished early to prevent further punishment.
The Forres rink of Robert McRitchie, Brian Caldwell, Sandy Burgess and John Matthews put up a great fight in the HBA Kenny Cheyne Trophy. They won their initial two ends at Fochabers against Jim Gordon's Huntly side. Huntly then took over, winning half a dozen ends in a row (including scoring a five) to storm 12-3 ahead. To their credit, the Forres lads responded well. They won six ends out of seven to trail just 13-11 going into the penultimate end. The two sides won an end each, making the final score 14-12 to Huntly.
Dean Dobbs ensured that there was an ex-champion in each half of this year's Men's Championship draw. The 2021 winner wasted no time in taking charge of his second round tie against Adam Nicolson, winning the first seven ends. Adam managed to win a couple of ends, but was well beaten by his more experienced opponent. Dean should be well tested when he faces Paul Rogan in the quarter-finals.
Alana Coutts will play Harry Sutherland in the quarter-finals of the President's Handicap after getting the better of Henry Davidson in their second round tie. Alana started the game well, and a maximum at the sixth end gave her an 8-2 lead. Henry began to slowly come back at her, trailing 10-6 a handful of ends later. He suffered a blow when Alana earned another four at the twelfth end on her way to a comfortable 16-6 advantage. Henry just about matched her thereafter, but couldn't prevent the inevitable.
There was almost a shock result in the W D MacPherson. Charlie Watt led John Ross 13-6 after 11 ends. John scored a maximum at the 12th end, but lost one three ends later as Charlie pushed to earn a 19-13 advantage. John responded well to the pressure, winning four of the next five ends to win 21-20. He will play the holder, Derek Sobey in the last eight.
There was an epic 26-end tie between Sandy Burgess and Marjory McCarthy. Marjory won the initial three ends, but Sandy soon overtook her. He scored a maximum at the fourth end. After 11 ends had been played, Marjory held a slender 9-8 advantage. A four end spurt seemed to put Sandy in control of the game, and, with twenty ends played, he led 18-13. Then came a great fightback. Marjory won half a dozen ends in a row to progress to a last eight meeting with Roy Anderson.
Brian Riddell is also through to the quarter-finals, but not before he'd played out a battle with Peggy Locke. Very little separated the pair over the first sixteen ends of their tie, with Peggy 11-9 ahead. Suddenly it clicked for Brian. He won five of the following six ends to go through comfortably. Robbie Fraser was lying in wait.
Due to their great start, Adam Nicolson and Paul Rogan are through to the semi-finals of the Porter Cup. They won the first four ends to lead 9-0 against Billy Felton and Robbie Fraser. Billy and Robbie finally got going, but were soon 15-3 down. They won the next pair of ends making the score 9-15 with a handful of ends to play. Adam and Paul put the game to bed by winning another three ends to lead 21-9. Billy and Robbie had left it too late. Even a five at the penultimate end was just a consolation.
Mary Sobey and Paul Coutts have also reached the semis. They won their initial six ends against Peggy Locke and Alana Coutts. Peggy and Alana won some ends mid-game, but ultimately lost out to the more experienced duo.
The John Raffan tie between Skibo McKenzie and Roy Anderson was an epic affair, lasting 26 ends. Roy held a slight advantage early on, but was always pegged back by Skibo. After 14 ends, the scores were tied at 9-9. Roy then began to pull marginally away from Skibo, but just by two or three shots. He was never far enough in front to be comfortable. Things changed from the 21st end and Roy won five ends out of six to progress in the competition.
Brian Caldwell had the better of Mary Sobey in the opening stages of their tie, leading 5-1 with half a dozen ends played. A maximum at the next end brought Mary back level. Her respite was fairly brief, with Brian getting a maximum of his own just two ends later. He went on to lead 15-6. Mary won six of the following seven ends to square matters at 16-16, before Brian recharged his batteries with a three. It finished in a 21-18 victory for him. He will play Derek Crosby next.
Robbie Fraser did well in the early stages of his tie to take a 6-4 lead over Paul Rogan. However Paul won ten of the following eleven ends to put the tie to bed. He will play Charlie Watt next.
Forres leap-frogged St Aethan's after defeating the coasters in both legs of their Moray Ladies' League tie.
Although trailing Ali Spiller's team 4-1 after four ends, the home triple of Carol McRitchie, Peggy Locke and Marjory McCarthy came good. They won four of the next five ends to level the tie at 5-5. Disappointed to lose three at the tenth end, they pressed on to win the remaining five ends, including hitting a seven at the 13th. Forres 20, St Aethan's 8.
Morag Ritchie, Alana Coutts and Lesley Coutts started well away from home, winning the initial three ends. Two ends later they were 5-4 down though. 10-10 with three ends to play, the Forres ladies went on to win all three. St Aethan's 10, Forres 16.
With two league games left, Forres are sitting in a disappointing sixth position.
Charlie Watt is at the summit of the Scott Cup table at the halfway point of the four month long competition. Charlie, Robert McRitchie and Paul Coutts restricted the luckless Sandy Burgess to winning just the first and last ends.
Although four-up after the initial pair of ends, John Ross was soon 11-5 down to Paul Rogan. A good second half turned a six-shot deficit into a two-shot victory for John.
Dean Dobbs seemed to be in total command when leading Alana Coutts 14-1 after nine ends. An amazing fightback was to follow, with the teenager twice going nap as she made the score 14-15 going into the final end. Alana held the shot at that end despite Dean firing at it twice. Her luck never held out though as Dean gained the shot after firing for the third time.
John Matthews started well against Gary Mackie, leading 5-1 after three ends. Gary then won six ends out of seven to go 12-6 ahead with six to play. Gary never got another sniff as John battled back.
There was very little between Alex Porter and Stuart Robertson. Their tie was all square at 16-16 until Alex earned a brace at the death.
Derek Sobey led Brian Caldwell throughout, but was sweating as Brian nearly caught him on the line.
Scores: P Coutts 32, A Burgess 2; J Ross 16, P Rogan 14; D Dobbs 16, A Coutts 14; J Matthews 14, G Mackie 12; A Porter 18, S Robertson 16; D Sobey 13, B Caldwell 12.
The inclement weather led to an abbreviated Wednesday afternoon hat. This was won by Robert McRitchie and Carol McRitchie. They won their first set and drew the second.
Although Ed Harris twice scored four in his first set, his second set let him down.
Sam Morrison started badly, but managed to come good in the second set.
Henry Davidson had to content himself with a share of the spoils in the second set.
Scores: C McRitchie 5 up; E Harris 3 up; S Morrison 3 down; H Davidson 5 down.
Despite a poor third set, Henry Davidson, Harry Sutherland and John Ross won Thursday's Moving Hat-Night. The trio were 23-1 up after just nine ends.
Stuart Robertson trailed 8-6 with seven ends left. He won the lot.
Marjory McCarthy lost her third set, but recovered to hit a six in her final one.
Six shots down starting the final set, Derek Sobey stormed it 13-0.
Leading 8-5 at half-time, the wheels came off for Brian Riddell in the second half. He lost a six at the 14th end.
Little went right for Lesley Coutts all evening. She did scrape through in her third set though.
Dean Dobbs came from behind to lead going into the final set. Then disaster struck.
Sam Morrison only won two ends all night. He might have earned a move after the third set, but he lost the toss as well.
Scores: J Ross 21 up; S Robertson 14 up; M McCarthy 13 up; D Sobey 7 up; B Riddell 5 down; L Coutts 11 down; D Dobbs 12 down; S Morrison 27 down.
As they were beaten 5-1 in the rain away to bottom of the table Aberlour, Forres slipped up badly in their quest to move into second spot in the Over 55s League at the halfway stage of the season.
Ed Harris and Skibo McKenzie secured Forres' only point, but even they should have done better. Leading 10-1 at half-time, they managed to lose a seven at the ninth end. Things were looking good for them when they hit their opponents for six at the very next end to lead 16-9 with just four ends left. After losing a five at the penultimate end, they were grateful to win a shot at the last to finish level at 17-17.
Elma McInnes and Charlie Watt trailed 9-4 at the mid-point. Although they won five of the remaining seven ends, they couldn't quite catch up. They lost 12-10.
Winning the final two ends was little consolation to Peggy Locke and Brian Caldwell. Although they lost the initial pair of ends, they then won five in a row for a 7-2 half-time advantage. Sadly, the aforementioned final pair of ends were their next successes. An 11-9 loss.
Forres sit in fourth place in the league table, nine points adrift of the leaders, Buckie. There are seven games left to play, with six points available at every game.
