Bowls: Ewan Fallen wins Scottish Junior Singles title

Fallen’s wins over Connor Milne of Turriff in the semi-finals and Derek Ferguson of Auchinleck in the final were achieved in dramatic style with defeat in both looking more than a probability at one stage.

“I felt more than a bit stunned when presented with the trophy but, now the win has sunk in, I am enjoying the feeling of being Under-25 champion in Scotland,” said Fallen.

In his semi-final against Milne, Fallen was under pressure at 1-8 after four ends and 15-6 down at one stage. The exit door still beckoned at 18-10 down but Fallen grew in confidence.

He brought the mat up the carpet at the first opportunity and the tactic paid a massive dividend as he carded a run of 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 1 that put him level at 18-18.

Milne responded with a cracking double to 20 to regain the driving seat but Fallen produced a grandstand finish in the shape of a brilliant ‘chap and lie’ on end 24 for a three-shot reward and a 21-20 victory.

The final against Ferguson saw Fallen fall 11-5 behind but, again, he made steady inroads that closed him to 12-14. He then benefited from a purple-patch spell of 1, 1, 2, 2, 2 that earned him a 20-14 supremacy.

Fallen had lain for the title on three occasions but was been denied by a resilient opponent. However, the victory was his on end 24 with a dominating build-up of the head yielding a single and a 21-16 victory.

Fallen, 23, is the third East Lothian player to win the title, following in the footsteps of Derek Oliver (2006) and Wayne Hogg whose double triumph in 2004 and 2005 was augmented by him winning the British Isles title in 2005.

The British title is the next individual target for Fallen and that opportunity knocks for him at Llanelli come mid-March. Prior to that, he adds to his six previous caps when part of the Scotland Under-25 team defending the Home Championship title at Bristol IBC next month.