ABBOTSFORD
A SHARE of the spoils was probably the fairest outcome for the men’s A team last week following a close encounter away to Hawick Wilton.
The hosts raced into an early lead, but Abbotsford staged a comeback, with John Purves’ rink clawing vital back shots, and coming down to the last end, both teams were in a position to win.
In the final throw of the game Eckie Hancock played his last bowl with five shots lying against him, and despite his best effort he only managed to draw third shot, which meant the game was tied at 76-all.
The B team played Kelso at home and lost by 11 shots.
Scottish ties took precedent on Friday night, with Tommy Newall beating S. Barker from Langholm Old and the pair of Kenny Johnstone and Colin Hancock winning against Mark Hogarth and Alan Brady from Wilton. The triple of Ian Macdonald, Stevie Graham and Brian Anderson travelled to Hawick to play against the Peebles triple, and were favourites coming down the last end with a three-shot advantage, but a firing shot by Graham in an effort to ditch the jack saw him catch the finest of edges, only for it to lie amongst the Peebles bowls. This left Anderson with only a one-bowl target, and despite his best efforts, Peebles scored four shots to win the game by one.
Elsewhere, the ladies lost their league match 3-2 and 24-22 away to Buccleuch.
Liz Waugh and Ella Brydon played in the Torrance Purvis Tournament for the Border Ladies at Colington, where they managed to hang on to their 6-2 lead from the home leg to win by a point overall. The remaining ladies still playing the Scottish went out with both singles players being defeated on Saturday.
BBA
The Hamilton Trophy series reached the third stage last week with no success for the Borders so far.
So on Saturday they faced a daunting task when playing East Lothian at Tranent, having rarely beaten the host team.
The green proved to be quite quick and rather tricky with bowls played on the wrong line being severely punished. But the Borderers settled quickly and built up a 10-shot lead. This was cut to six shots by 18 ends, but they kept focused and gained a magnificent victory by 125-107.
This win might not enable them to qualify for the quarter-final stages, but it certainly restores some pride ahead of a difficult meeting next week when they play West Lothian at Coldstream.
On Sunday, the Under-25s played their first league match at Berwick, also against East Lothian. The game was a severe test of character and the local youngsters came through it well. With just one rink left on the green with two ends left to play, the Borders trailed by three shots.
On the first of these ends they gained an excellent count of five to be two shots in front and on the last, despite a very good effort by the East Lothian skip, the Borderers scored a further two shots to win the match by 118-114.
The next match for the Under-25s is against Fife at Newtown on Sunday, June 10, but this is subject to change due to other commitments on the same day.
Towards the end of the Under-25s match, news came through that Chirnside had beaten Stranraer West End 6-2 in the Top 10. The victory has earned them a semi-final place on finals day, to be held at Colinton on Sunday, June 10. This is a rare feat for any Borders club and it is hoped they can now go all the way.
BORDER LADIES
On Friday, the ladies travelled to Colinton for the second leg of the Torrance Purvis competition against Edinburgh & Leith.
The matches involve 10 ladies from each association, playing singles, pairs, triples and fours categories.
The ladies carried forward six points from the first leg, together with a 40-plus shot difference, while Edinburgh & Leith had earned just two points. Provided the Borderers could win at least one of the categories and earn two more points they would go through on a superior shot difference.
And this they duly did in their triples match. Zenda Borthwick (Hawick) with Elizabeth Waugh and Ella Brydon, both from the Abbotsford club, had led for most of the match, but only led by three shots going into the final end.
Edinburgh could only manage two shots and the Border ladies went through on a superior shot difference.
EARLSTON
IT was a busy weekend for the club, so the gorgeous weather was more than welcome.
Having played host to three Scottish ties on Friday night, the venue welcomed a more informal gathering on Saturday when the family fun night took place.
And, indeed, great fun was had by all, big and small, with a large number taking part.
On Sunday, the club pairs took place with George A. Cessford & Maisie Hope edging it 9-8 in the final end against Denise Kellet & Sheila Weatherhead to win the trophy. Semi-finalists were Steven Greer & Ian Douglas and Bob Beattie & Trish Cessford.
Several members have been involved with the various Scottish competitions with dynamic duo Denise Kellet and Gail Moffat making it through to the regional finals of the ladies’ pairs following victories over Kelso, Hawick and Jed. In the men’s singles Alex Moffat is still going strong. Having notched wins over Lauder and Ayton, Moffat faces a semi-final tie tomorrow night against old friend and rival Alistair White from Melrose.
GALASHIELS
THE week started with the senior triples league entertaining neighbours Abbotsford.
The match was very close and could have gone either way, but Gala managed to pull clear towards the end to give them their second win of the season.
On the same night, the ladies travelled to Selkirk, but they were beaten, gaining no points.
The gents’ A team travelled to Kelso where one Gala rink was well beaten and the others were not able to amass enough shots to cancel out the deficit.
The B team were at home on the same night against Wilton B, but were unable to match the visitors who had a good win.
On Sunday, the club had a very successful pro-am event, played in superb weather. Once again thanks are due to Rick Young for organising the competition.
This Saturday the ladies host their annual coffee morning and all are welcome. There will be an excellent draw with some very good prizes to be won.
LANGHOLM NEW TOWN
TWO Langholm triples battled it out in the final of the New Town bowling tournament last Saturday, which was played in glorious weather.
The winners, who received the trophy from president Jock Corrie, were Mac Johnstone, his sister Carolle Warwick and her son Paul.
In an exciting final Paul Warwick won with the last bowl. They beat Avril and Robert Grieve and Steve Barker.
In the semi-finals, the eventual winners beat Roy Park, Robert Phillips and Alan Nixon. Also knocked out at that stage were Roger and Eleanor McMurdo and George Gordon.