Hard fight for Jim and Tom

The singles tie was played over 28 ends and in a keenly-contested tie, allied with bowling of a good standard, Conrad McAndie won by 21 shots-18. After five ends the score was five shots all. At the seventh end Ferguson scored three shots to lead 8-5 after ten ends. Gradually McAndie took control of the game and led by 11-8 after 15 ends to be increased to 17-10 after 20 ends. However, credit to Ferguson for his fight back and, at the penultimate end of the game, trailed by 20 shots to 18. At the 28th end McAndie scored a single shot. The players provided an excellent tie and can be well pleased with their performance throughout the game.

Jim McConnachie and Tom Turnbull, holders of the Four Bowls title, had to fight hard to retain their title against strong opponents Conrad McAndie and Jim Wilson.

In the opening end the challengers scored five shots. At the third end the holders replied by scoring five shots but after five ends trailed by 10-5. However, the holders took control of the game, and over the next five ends, scored ten shots to lead by 15-10 after ten ends.

At the 13th end the holders led by 20-11 but all credit to the challengers for hitting back by scoring six shots to reduce the leeway to 20-17 after 16 ends. At the final end McAndie and Wilson lay four shots with Turnbull to play the last bowl of the game. Turnbull, under pressure, played a running bowl into the head with perfection and removed two bowls of his opponents and won the game by one shot.

The tie throughout was exciting and the players have to be congratulated on their play throughout the game.

Results: Seniors Championship – Conrad McAndie 21, Ian Ferguson 18. Four Bowl Pairs – Jim McConnachie, T. Turnbull 20; Conrad McAndie, Jim Wilson 19.

Cumbernauld gents, in their preliminary round of the Scottish National Fours, lost to Portobello by 22 shots-11 at the West of Scotland Indoor Bowling Club on Saturday.