Bowls: No joy for Irvine in National Playdowns

Jan 29 2010 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

IRVINE Indoor Bowling Club took a break from the league grind when they competed in the National Triples Playdowns at the weekend – but there was no joy for the Magnum outfit with both the Men and the Ladies crashing out in the early stages.

The men’s trio of Jim Litster, Alan Campbell and Alastair Parker travelled to Auchinleck but were narrowly beaten 15 shots to 14 in the first round by Stirling.

Semi-finalists at Prestwick on March 27 are: A. Gordon, A. Cunningham and G. Bain (Fraserburgh) who will play Paisley’s C. Miller, M. Walsh and D. Stobo while C. Paterson, C. Moss and P. O'Donnell (Bainfield) will meet J. Rennix, S. McClaren and S. Bishop of Coatbridge.

The Ladies triple of Andrea Campbell, Margaret McGowan and Pearl McMaster fought well against Paisley but were eventually beaten by 17 shots to 24 in the first round.

The semi-finalists, also at Prestwick on March 27, are: K. Peacock, M. Gillies and A. Melrose (Nithsdale) who will play J. Conlan, S. McLeish and A. Melrose (Midlothian) and S. Farquhar, A. Gillies and I. Laing (Elgin) who face B. Gibson, J. Dickey and J. Forrest of Teviotdale

On Saturday the Men and Ladies complete their respective league campaigns.

The Men go to Dumbarton knowing they still have an outside chance of winning promotion to the Premier Division.

But to do so they must win that game and hope Paisley suffer a heavy defeat at home to relegated Galleon.

The Ladies are at home to East Kilbride in a match which starts at 2pm.