GALASHIELS
THE club’s Christmas wine and dine will be held on Sunday, starting at noon.
All welcome, and payment can be made at the door.
TWEEDBANK
A BUSY and largely successful past week for the club started with the seniors last Wednesday when they entertained Teviotdale.
The visitors had been motivated by two good home wins over Balbardie and Bainfield, and a close match was expected – however, the reality was something quite different.
In the space of five ends, Tweedbank had amassed 35 shots for the loss of only 10. All four rinks were ahead and one had already reached 15 shots for the loss of just a single.
The hosts continued to advance across the four rinks during the next five ends, increasing the overall lead to 36 shots. There was already no way back for Teviotdale and it became a question of whether or not they could at least stem the tide.
This was not the case, however, and the final result was a convincing victory for Tweedbank by 94-39.
Highest-up rink for Tweedbank was Angus Tait, John Pringle, Jimmy Redpath and Clark Chalmers.
This quartet began with five shots in two ends and after losing a single in the next, they won nine ends in a row, picking up 25 shots, including a count of seven. They then lost four shots in two ends, but finished with three singles to triumph 33-5.
Skips and scores: Peter McGauchrane 22, H. Fisher 10; Rob Fulton 20, G. Lyall 9; Clark Chalmers 33, C Rae 5; David Weir 19, G. McPherson 15.
This result lifted Tweedbank above Portobello with three wins and six points.
Saturday saw the gents take on Portobello at home in a must-win encounter for the Borderers if they were to have any chance of winning the league.
Proceedings started quietly with neither team gaining any real advantage.
With five ends completed, however, Tweedbank were 10 shots up. But this lead had been halved by the completion of 10 ends.
With three quarters of the match finished, Tweedbank had widened the gap to 15 shots and they accelerated away during the last few ends to win 87-61.
Three of the four home rinks ended in victory – the biggest achieved by Ivan Hogg, Gordon Bowers, David Miller and Ross Nichol.
Helped by a count of five on the third end, they led 7-1. Their advantage was sliced to just two before six shots in three ends extended their lead to nine following 12 ends.
Portobello again fought back to within four shots, but the final six ends went Tweedbank’s way.
There was also a good win for Ben McGregor, Dougie Wilson, Malcolm Thin and Neil McNally. This rink did not have the best of starts and after losing counts of four and five they trailed 12-4 after seven ends. They then took five ends in a row, picking up 10 shots in total. After losing a further single they then won all the remaining ends to end 13 shots ahead.
Skips and scores: Robert Crawford 21, C. Steven 14; Neil McNally 26, S. Betts 13; Ross Nichol 27, A. Caldwell 13; Kenny Johnstone 13, G. Johnstone 21. 87-61.
This win moved Tweedbank to the top of the league on eight points – a point ahead of Portobello, however, they have a game in hand.
Tweedbank travel to Abbeyview on December 15 for another crucial game which they must win.
But the ladies were soundly beaten at East Lothian, with no Tweedbank rink recording a victory.
At club level, the Christmas game is on December 14 and members wishing to take part should add their names to the list on the social noticeboard as soon as possible. They should also include their choice of food for the Christmas meal, which will follow the games.
Decisions have been made concerning the programme after the New Year – there will be leagues for gents, mixed and afternoons, with promotion and relegation resulting from the leagues currently in progress.
In the case of the afternoon leagues, three teams will go up and three will be relegated.
In addition to the leagues, there will be a new triples league on Friday evenings. Members are invited to enter sides of four players for this new set-up, using the list which will be displayed on the main noticeboard.