Championship date for Thurso bowlers
THURSO Bowling Club will have representatives in the finals of the Northern Counties Championships on August 21, after both the singles and fours won in Brora last week.
Brian Cormack saw off a spirited fightback from Billy Barclay, of Fortrose.
Leading 14-6, Brian found himself 19-14 down but regained his form and closed out the match for a 21-19 win.
The Thurso four of Calum Elder, Derek Rhodes, Nigel Gower and Douglas Morrison came through their tie against Muir of Ord quite comfortably. After a close first few ends the Thurso four settled down and secured their semi-final spot.
Last week saw the DSRL-sponsored pairs sets competition played and the set format – two sets of seven ends and the jack re-spotted if it leaves the rink – made for some close and exciting games.
The junior pairing of Ross Cowan and Dean McPhee were playing well and gave Alan Morrison and Ronnie Bain a tough game in their quarter-final, only going down on a tie-break.
Alan and Ronnie then moved on to the final after they beat Janet Sinclair and Douglas Fraser in the semi by two sets to nil.
In the bottom half of the draw Brian Cormack and Lorna McDermid got the fright of their lives against Linda and Euan Morrison when they were taken all the way to the final third tie-break end, with Euan marginally missing the jack with the last bowl.
Brian and Lorna booked their final place with wins over Johnny MacKay and Andy Miller and then Maggie Patterson and Sandy Laird in the semi.
The final was played last Friday night with the first set going Brian and Lorna’s way (7-6).
The second set saw Brian and Lorna build a lead of four shots with two ends left but Alan and Ronnie picked up a two to go into the last end with two, but after dropping the first set they needed a three to ensure a tie-break.
With the head set up in their favour, Ronnie just missed the conversion shot with his last bowl and Brian and Lorna wrapped up the set 6-3 to become the pairs sets winners.
Saturday saw the ladies take centre stage on the green with their round-robin pairs tournament. A total of 18 players took part in an enjoyable day and after the group stages it was Liz Rhodes and Judy Mowat, Bonnie Dymond and Lorna McDermid, Susan Cowie and Maggie Patterson and Margaret Gunn and Julie Knapp who made it through to the semi-finals.
Bonnie and Lorna scraped through from the group stage to seal a final spot with a 9-3 win over Liz and Judy.
There they would face Susan and Maggie who defeated Margaret and Julie.
Bonnie and Lorna picked up a six on the second end of the final and Susan and Maggie found it hard to reduce the deficit, eventually losing out by six, with the final scoreline reading 13-7 to Bonnie and ?Lorna.
The single sets will be played over today and tomorrow and on Sunday the county rinks will be competed for at the Rosebank Green in Wick.
