National Top Five

Castle Douglas gained revenge over Bonnyrigg on Sunday when they beat the visitors 3 - 0 in the quarter final of the National Top Five competition.  The visitors had beaten Castle Douglas in the first round of the Top Ten back in May and the victory for the Stewartry side sees them return to Sighthill in Edinburgh for the finals day on 7th September for the third year in a row.  Having lost out at the semi final stage in 2012 and 2013 the team is aiming to go all the way this year.

Alan Davies met Calum Redpath and got off to a strong start leading 8 - 3 and then 13 - 6.  Calum narrowed the gap at 13 - 10 but Alan took control and over the next five ends scored the eight shots he needed to put the first point on the board for Castle Douglas.

William ‘Buff’ Brydson got off to a strong start too, leading 10 - 4 against Jamie Hanlan.  The Bonnyrigg player fought back and counts of three, four and two saw him go ahead 13 - 10. The pair scored two each to make the score 15 - 12 and then Buff rattled off five ends in a row, scoring eight shots in the process, to lead 20 - 15. Jamie scored a two on the next end but Buff score the one shot he needed on the next to take the point for CD.

Scott Davies led 5 - 0 against Drew Pearson, then moved further ahead to lead 11 - 4.  Drew came back at him and the gap narrowed to two with Scott leading 12 - 10, and then 15 - 13.  Scott scored a maximum four on the next end to move within two shots of securing the match for the home side, and two single shots on the last two ends secured CDs place in the semi final.

Graeme Maxwell was up against Ronnie Duncan and trailed 4 - 7, 6 - 9 and 9 - 14 before he scored ten shots without reply to lead 19 - 14.  Ronnie came back with a three before Graeme moved onto 20. Ronnie scored three singles to tie the game 20 - 20, and with Scott securing the win for Castle Douglas the game ended in a draw.

John Crawford and Lindsay Plenderleith’s game was also unfinished. John got away to a 10 - 5 lead before Lindsay narrowed the gap to 11 - 10 and then the Bonnyrigg player moved ahead over the next nine ends to lead 19 - 15, which was the score when the match finished.

National Top Five

Castle Douglas take on Bonnyrigg this Sunday at home in the quarter final of the National Top Five competition.  Having lost to Bonnyrigg in the Top Ten earlier this season the CD players are out to make amends and get to their third Top Five Semi Final in a row in Edinburgh on 7th September.  The game starts at 2pm and a close match is expected.

Stewartry Top Five Final

Castle Douglas retained the Stewartry Top Five title with a 3 - 1 win over Kirkcudbright last Tuesday evening at Dalbeattie.

Graeme Maxwell put the first point on the board for the holders.  He led Brian McClune 14 - 1 before Brian fought back to reduce the deficit to 15 - 11, but the CD man proved too strong and wrapped up victory 21 - 13.

Scott Davies had a good tussle with Kirkcudbright’s young starlet Ewan McMinn.  Ewan led 6 - 3 and 9 - 6 before Scott went ahead 11 - 9.  Ewan levelled at 11 each but Scott pulled away to lead 19 - 11. Ewan fought back and trailed 19 - 16 and then 20 - 18 before Scott closed out the match.

Kirkcudbright’s reigning County singles champion George Brown took an early lead against Billy Brydson, leading 10 - 3.  Billy came back to trail 10 -7 but George moved ahead again and opened Kirkcudbright’s account with a 21 - 10 win.

Alan Davies of Castle Douglas held a commanding 11 - 2 lead against Robert McClune and moved further ahead 15 - 3 and then 18 - 7. However Robert responded by scoring on the next six ends to trail by just two at 18 - 16.  On the next end however Alan stopped Robert’s run and scored three to give Castle Douglas the third point they needed to win the match.

The final match was completed as well with John Crawford of Castle Douglas securing a 21 - 14 win over David Gourlay.

Stewartry President Ronnie Gibson presented the Top Five salver to Castle Douglas.

The Stewartry Top Five semi finals were played last Tuesday evening.  In the first Castle Douglas defeated Auchencairn 3 - 0 at Dalbeattie, and in the second Kirkcudbright put out Gatehouse at Castle Douglas 3 - 1.  Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright were playing the final at Dalbeattie on Tuesday evening and the report will follow in next week’s News.

In the Top Five on Tuesday night Auchencairn beat Creetown & Castle Douglas beat Dalbeattie.

First team to win 3 games of 21 up wins the match.  Host club please provide 5 markers.

The final of the Stewartry Top Ten, sponsored by Bryan Swales Auto Repairs, was played at Dalbeattie on Friday night between Dalbeattie and holders Castle Douglas.  In the singles Graeme Maxwell of Castle Douglas edged out Bruce Richardson 21 - 17.  The pairs was close with Dalbeattie’s Billy McMinn and Tom Feenan levelling the match with a 16 - 12 win over William Brydson and Alan Davies.  This left the game in the balance with Castle Douglas 3 shots up with one end to play in both the triples and fours, and leaving Dalbeattie needing to score 4 shots to take the title.  It wasn’t to be for Dalbeattie as Castle Douglas’s Gary Davies, Will Green and Scott Davies scored a 5 to secure the win in the triples 17 - 5 over Dalbeattie’s Ronnie Gibson, Dennis McKnight and Stevie McMinn, and Gavin Green, Hugh Robertson, John Crawford and Allan Green of Castle Douglas scored a 2 to lose narrowly to Dalbeattie’s Kenny Logan, Rab Mason, Stewart Tait and Mick Kirkpatrick 14 - 16.  This made the final score 4 each on points but Castle Douglas retained the title on shots 64 - 54.

The semi finals of the Stewartry Top Ten, sponsored by Bryan Swales Auto Repairs, were played on Friday nigh.  Holders Castle Douglas hosted New Abbey and secured a 5 - 3 win.  Dalbeattie were at home to Spalding and the home club won through to the final with a 6 - 2 victory.  The final is this Friday evening at 7pm at the President’s green, Dalbeattie.

The first round of the Stewartry Top Ten, sponsored by Bryan Swales Auto Repairs, was played on Friday night.  Castle Douglas went to Gatehouse and won 8 - 0, Dalbeattie hosted Auchencairn and saw them off 7 - 1, Spalding had Creetown visit and got the upperhand  6 - 2 and Kirkcudbright lost at home to New Abbey 6 - 2.

The semi finals this Friday evening sees Castle Douglas at home to New Abbey and Dalbeattie hosting Spalding.

Castle Douglas travelled to Bonnyrigg in the Inter County Top Ten on Sunday.  They knew they were meeting a strong team and so it proved with Bonnyrigg winning all four disciplines.

In the singles John Crawford met Ronnie Duncan who is a member of Bowls Scotland’s Elite Squad.  The home player got off to a strong start and took a commanding lead.  John dug in and worked hard to narrow the deficit however he finally went down 21 - 12.  The pair of Steven Richardson and Alan Davies led early but the home pair came onto a strong game and took the 2 points 25 - 14.  The triples was a close game but the Bonnyrigg trio prevailed to beat Gary Davies, Allan Green and Scott Davies 11 - 6.  In the fours Gavin Green, Hugh Robertson, Wull Green and Graeme Maxwell led early on too, but as the game wore on the home four took control and ran out winners 21 - 11.