Bowls: Portobello’s late rally not enough

Gracing the national stage was a new experience and challenge for Anderson and Co but they made an encouraging start by carding a single and a double to lead Catherine Beaton, Pat Conway, Jean Bell and Mary Morrison 3-0.

But it proved to be a false dawn as the next ten ends were non-productive and, although their losses weren’t heavy, the accumulation left Portobello 12-3 down to an opposition that had grown in confidence.

Portobello did manage to settle into a better rhythm with a couple of singles to 5 then answered the loss of a single with an exciting fight-back that saw them close to 13-11 with a run of 1, 1, 1, 1, 2.

It was a nerve-wracking challenge that faced them entering the 21st and final end and it brought disappointment to Portobello and their support when they conceded a double that sentenced Anderson and Co to a 15-11 exit.

Dumbarton struggled themselves in the final and failing to recover from despite a late rally, the Portobello ladies rink of Izzy Dickson, Margaret Murray, Irene Gray and skip Isabel Anderson lost out by a mere four shots in their semi-final with Dumbarton in the Fours of the Scottish Indoor Bowls Championships played at Coatbridge.

Gracing the national stage was a new experience and challenge for Anderson and Co but they made an encouraging start by carding a single and a double to lead Catherine Beaton, Pat Conway, Jean Bell and Mary Morrison 3-0.

But it proved to be a false dawn as the next ten ends were non-productive and, although their losses weren’t heavy, the accumulation left Portobello 12-3 down to an opposition that had grown in confidence.

Portobello did manage to settle into a better rhythm with a couple of singles to 5 then answered the loss of a single with an exciting fight-back that saw them close to 13-11 with a run of 1, 1, 1, 1, 2.

It was a nerve-wracking challenge that faced them entering the 21st and final end and it brought disappointment to Portobello and their support when they conceded a double that sentenced Anderson and Co to a 15-11 exit.

Dumbarton struggled themselves in the final and failing to recover from 10-1 down after five ends crashed to a heavy 33-6 defeat from Audrey Cameron, Anne Marie Taggart, Elizabeth Brown and Lorna Cameron of Whiteinch.

Meanwhile, the high hopes of Midlothian winning the men’s Triples were dashed when Ronnie Duncan, Billy Peacock and Colin Walker were beaten 16-11 in the semi-finals.

Walker and Co faced Brian Irvine, Craig Irvine and Iain McLean of Blantyre, the defending champions, who opened up a 10-2 lead after eight ends and although Midlothian closed to 13-11 Blantyre answered with a 2, 1 finish.

Coatbridge’s Derek Taggart, Chris Bryden and Gordon McKenzie beat McLean and Co, 20-13 in the final.

Prestwick captured the Pairs title with Paul Foster skipping Alex Adrain to a 25-15 win over Chris Stein and Wayne Hogg of East Fife while Derek McLue skipped his Auchinleck rink to a 21-13 win over Bruce Ramage, of Alloa, in the Fours.

Arbroath overcame Teviotdale 16-3 in the women’s Triples. 10-1 down after five ends crashed to a heavy 33-6 defeat from Audrey Cameron, Anne Marie Taggart, Elizabeth Brown and Lorna Cameron of Whiteinch.

Meanwhile, the high hopes of Midlothian winning the men’s Triples were dashed when Ronnie Duncan, Billy Peacock and Colin Walker were beaten 16-11 in the semi-finals.

Walker and Co faced Brian Irvine, Craig Irvine and Iain McLean of Blantyre, the defending champions, who opened up a 10-2 lead after eight ends and although Midlothian closed to 13-11 Blantyre answered with a 2, 1 finish.

Coatbridge’s Derek Taggart, Chris Bryden and Gordon McKenzie beat McLean and Co, 20-13 in the final.

Prestwick captured the Pairs title with Paul Foster skipping Alex Adrain to a 25-15 win over Chris Stein and Wayne Hogg of East Fife while Derek McLue skipped his Auchinleck rink to a 21-13 win over Bruce Ramage, of Alloa, in the Fours.

Arbroath overcame Teviotdale 16-3 in the women’s Triples.