STEWARTRY V RENFREWSHIRE – KIRKCUDBRIGHT 22/05/10

After the high drama of last week the old saying of lightning never striking twice was blown right out the window. Renfrewshire came into the game with some problems of team morale and selection, but the directors must have got a real lift from their team’s performance.

Rink 1 Keith was on the show rink this week and was looking for an improvement on the first 2 weeks and certainly got it from his rink, not least from a few “Brucie Bonuses”. Although at times the front end was being pressurised Bruce and Keith played some big shots and ran out winners, but another great last bowl from Keith on the final end to lose only a one turned out crucial again!   

Rink 2 Alister Herries moved across to cover for the absent Martin McClymont, and his partnership with Alan McClymont was really good. Alan played some great drawing shots to change heads and “Flash” was back to his one bowl destruction of bad heads and his bowl on the 3^rd last end to trail into ditch knocked stuffing out of his opponents. Front end were up against it and will learn about jack control for future games.

Rink 3 George Brown continued his excellent form in this year’s series and was backed up by his young rink, with no real weaknesses obvious from the spectators’ point of view. George continues to pull out some cracking draws with only a few inches to work with and again thoroughly deserved his win and probably was our best player on the green.

Rink 4 saw Sharkey suffer the highs and lows within a week, when his rink struggled against an in form Jackie McNeil. Although Sharkey played some great conversion and draws, he was always up against it and did well to keep score as close as it was. Slight controversy at end when Sharkey had one bowl to come and team manager approached head to discuss overall situation. One or two players from other rinks started to get a bit boisterous and a few verbals were exchanged before umpire intervened. But it set last end of rink 5 up as game winner and got everyone right behind the Stewartry boys.

Rink 5 was a changed rink with Brian McClune coming in to skip and Stewart Gilmour coming in to cover for the absent Matteo and Gav. This again proved a frustrating game with the Stewartry lads setting up some good heads only for the skip to alter them with alarming regularity. This game though proved to have the defining last end and a great back toucher from Hoopy and a side bowl within 8 inches from Conc meant Stewartry were lying 2 with only skips to play. Big Brian played a blocker, opposing skip cleared it out on forehand, Brian put blocker back in, skip changed hand and tried to play a running bowl. Fortunately, this was an error in judgement and bowl was last seen heading up Kirkcudbright High Street.

Rink 6 once again this rink was changed to cover for absent players and Scott McCubbin came back in to sub Reech. Michael Turnbull again put in another sound performance as lead; with Stewart McClymont trying to back him up this was a good performance. Reech can consider himself unlucky that this was against another old stalwart of Renfrew in wee Michael. He consistently was up and changing good heads into losing situations, but Reech and Scott kept plugging away and kept game tight to ensure game overall would go to the wire.

The last end drama was not quite as intense as last week but nevertheless it still had a few elements of high drama. After the confrontation at the other end as Sharkey finished, team manager went right round the green to watch the last 4 bowls of the match. Despite one or two opposition players trying to block his access he got through (in a gentlemanly fashion of course!!). Having sprinted across the green last week it was a much more subdued, but still excited celebration, to congratulate his players. Once again I cannot thank my players enough, great spirit and desire to win after having led 23 – 1 early on to falling behind 110 – 99 with a few ends to go, superb display. Also big thanks to the girls from Stewartry Care who came to get some pictures with the players and stayed for the whole day, I think some of them are even considering taking up the game now, so thanks again ladies.