Stewartry v Dunbartonshire East 05/06/10 at New Abbey.

Well Saturday turned out to be a hot day in more ways than one. New Abbey green was playing at least 3 yards faster than I have ever seen it and all credit to all players involved in making this a very exciting game. I thought that games this season could not possibly get any tenser - how wrong can you be?

Rink 1 – As I said last week it was only going to be a matter of time before Flash was back to his usual ways and he responded immediately. Although never a lot in the game he was always in front and in fact in early part of game was our only scorer. Young Ronan has certainly had a baptism of fire this year and I hope he is learning from every experience he is getting. Ian Carter is as reliable as a swiss watch and on Saturday he played some great head setting bowls. Alan Cly, has set himself high standards and now faces the task of living up to them, I’m sure next week he will fulfil all expectations. Flash himself has not played badly this season but has not got results – he got it big style today so hopefully that will bring the bounce back for next weeks big game.

Rink 2 – I am beginning to run out of words to express as a manager how much joy this rink brings, without seeming to start the Geordie appreciation society. But this week exceeded everything else, 16 – 1 down after 9 ends and 19 – 10 down after 15, they never lost another shot and ran out 23 – 19 winners. Again this was a great rink effort with all 4 players contributing at different parts of game, young Robert is developing into a fine lead and Stevie J has his confidence back. Big Brian was below his own high standards in early part of game nut from halfway was immense. George himself does as George does, keeps things simple and plays the percentage game – well done lads.

Rink 3 – This was a game that just seemed to slip away from this rink that in part was due to Big Geo and his lads handling the jack length better than the Stewartry boys but there perhaps is a lesson that more than one rink should have learned, control of jack and first bowl was crucial on Saturday and keeping jack was perhaps a better idea, perhaps more use could have made of Conc, but still a good performance. Hoopy will have better games and Matteo will hit top gear after some more green time this week.  Marty and his rink led most of game and there was only one in it at 18 ends. They managed to get 2 singles to set up for a good finish and I will come back to that later.

Rink 4 – Captain Keith on his own green was one of my bankers for this week and he did not disappoint the rink managed to build a good platform from ends 5 to 18 and were able to withstand a slight comeback to pull away in last couple of ends. Papa Joe  struggled in first few ends but a change of hand and he then settled in to a decent performance. Tom Rogers is without doubt a really dependable second and played the bowls to back up his lead. Brucie has not shown last seasons form yet and when he does this rink will really take some stopping. Keith as always played some great conversion shots and drew when required. Good win.

Rink 5 – If this is Reech’s last game this season he will be very disappointed, on a very tricky rink they struggled all day for line and length but never gave up and in fact a really good 2 on the last helped team position at the end. Michael had aquieter game than last 2 weeks, Neil Shuttleworth in first game at HT level for many years took some time to get going but came on strong towards end. Scott and Stevie toiled to get into game but all credit they never allowed situation to get them down although a couple of times it looked like it. As I said they got a good 2 on last to pull scores tighter going into last few ends.

Rink 6 – Sharkey got off to a quiet start but from 10 – 15 ends he and his rink pulled a good few shots away. Again credit to Tam Mac as he also played some great conversion bowls to put his rink right into contention. Gav again was solid at lead and was more than backed up by a good display from Eric at second. Natch started brightly but faded in second half of the game. Sharkey was good in middle part of the game when he played positively and got some results, whether the tightness of game got to him but he tightened towards end and was unable to get a turnover he needed to create a 5 on second last which would have been huge in overall terms. But overall another sound performance and with more to come, this rink are due for a big win.

Overall this game went to the wire and beyond, Dunbartonshire were up for most of game and only once did Stewartry lead by a small margin. Last 3 ends involved rinks 1, 3 and 4. Marty was 4 down with a bowl to come Keith was lying 1 with a bowl to come and Flash was 3 up with 4 bowls to go. Marty tried to take out shots or move jack, unfortunately he was high and bowl sailed through head. 4 down 2 rinks still on, Flash plays first bowl makes 4, opposing skip plays backhand clips jack high bowl but turns it away and runs on, still 4 Stewartry. Keith tries to draw another shot since opposing skip has altered head to stop Keith playing weight to move jack for a 4 or 5. Tight from his hand falls just short, 1 Stewartry 3 down 2 bowls to come. Flash does not really want to alter head or finish jack level, draws on forehand finishes yard away but just inside line. Sommerville has played on backhand previous shot changes hand to try and get a close shot looks heavy slide past front of head and catches Flashes first bowl and stops, slight cheers from Dunbartonshire Flash calls for measure, third measures Stewartry lie 3 tied game. Once again boys you don’t half put me through it but well done I am proud to be part of such a fighting squad you all know what we have to do, I will put team up later in week, once I have considered all my options.