Ayrshire bowlers wrap up league

Jun 18 2008 Ayrshire Post

AYRSHIRE booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Hamilton Trophy with a 149-107 win over Glasgow at Saltcoats.

Playing with confidence, they weathered a good start by Glasgow and soon had a 30 shot lead which at one stage they stretched to almost 60.

With nearest rivals, Lanarkshire, losing 116-112 to bottom of the league, Argyll & Bute, it means Ayrshire have won their league with a game to spare.

As three or four players had holidays arranged for this weekend, the news was a marvellous boost to the ambitions of retaining the trophy.

Scores: Ayrshire 149, Glasgow 107: Johnny Carswell 25, Peter Murray 13; Graeme Campbell 30, Archie Glencross 12; Colin Smith 17, Jim Lyness 22; David Gass 27, Graham D’Arcy 12; Garry Johnstone 34, David Brown 14; Sandy Graham 16, Dougie Smith 34.

On Saturday, Ayrshire play Dumbartonshire West at Vale of Leven BC. The bus leaves Ayr Racecourse at 11.30am and Kilmarnock Townholm at 12 noon.

Team 1: Kevin Boyd (Irvine Pk), Steven Dudgeon (Dundonald), Jim Hopkins (Galston LWM), Johnny Carswell (Blacklands); Team 2: Bob Morris (Girdle Toll), Donnie McWhirter (Dailly), Steven Matthews (Kilwinning), Garry Johnstone (Auchinleck); Team 3: Alan Campbell (Crosshill), Ewan Sloan (Ardrossan), Jim Black (Dalmellington), Ian Galloway (Dalry); Team 4: Billy Anderson (Annbank), Jim Cumming (Crosshill), Garry Hood (Hawkhill), David Gass (Newton Pk); Team 5: Craig England (Northfield), John Wardrop (Saltcoats), Willie McKenzie (Cumnock), Derek McClue (Ochiltree); Team 6: Eddie Duncan (Cumnock), Graeme Hume (Springhill), Hugh McCrindle (Cumnock), Sandy Graham (Drongan).

Ayr County are still unable to get going and lost another close encounter by three shots (113–110) to Stewartry.

They now go into their last game against Dumbartonshire East at Northwest, Kilmarnock, hoping to restore some pride.

Scores: Ayr County 110, Stewartry 113: Jim Fleming 25, K. Shuttleworth 16; Douglas Watson 16, M. McClymont 17; Alistair Parker 14, G. Brown 20; David Conway 15, S. Richardson 25; Jim Hume 22, A. McLeod 20; Graham Peacock 18, S. Connchar 15.

Ayr County team to play Dumbartonshire East at Northwest on Saturday:

Team 1: Graham Iley (Ardrossan), Derek McCabe (Newton Pk), Jamie Campbell (Ardrossan), Jim Fleming (Mauchline); Team 2: Grant Hamilton (Darvel), Tommy Bohan (Auchinleck), Willie Moir (Kilwinning), Douglas Watson (Mauchline); Team 3: Chris Duffy (Craigie), Craig McArthur (Dundonald), Alistair Parker (Dundonald), James Gribben (Glaisnock); Team 4: Andrew Marshall (Newton Pk), Graeme Falconer (Drongan), Gerry King (North West), David Conway (Auchinleck); Team 5: James Anderson (Northwest), Iain McIlwraith (Ballantrae), Stephen Robertson (Cumnock), Jim Hume (Springhill); Team 6: John Tait (Maidens), Craig Cobbledick (Coylton), Brian Queen (Galston), Graham Peacock (Hurlford); Reserves: Julian Rumsey (Dundonald), Graeme Williamson (Irvine Park), Martin Williamson (Irvine Park).

lThe West District finals of the Ayrshire Championships take place at Dundonald BC tonight (Thursday) at 6.30pm.