Ayrshire teams are off to a flier

May 15 2009

BOTH Ayrshire bowling teams made a winning start to the Hamilton Trophy – but only just.

Ayrshire beat Renfrewshire West 115-112 at Northfield while Ayr County scraped a 134-133 win against Renfrewshire South at Ardgowan.

Although both local teams were in the lead throughout their games, they couldn’t shake off the Renfrewshire challenge and take a firm hold. However, they held on in nail biting finishes.

This is a fine start to this year's campaign and the directors have made only changes necessitated by holidays and by players who are representing Northfield in the Inter-County Top Ten at Inverness against the northern counties winners Fraser Park this weekend.

Scores: Ayrshire v Renfrewshire West: Johnny Carswell 13, Steven Murphy 24; Colin Smith 20, Willie Killens 15; Garry Johnstone 19, Billy Wilson 21; Douglas Watson 23, Ian Gray 18; Garry Hood 17, Sandy Wotherspoon 16; Graeme Campbell 23, Alan McLean 18.

Ayr County 134, Renfrewshire 133: David Conway 30, J. O’Sullivan 15; Jim Hume 19, A. Brown 26; Steven Dudgeon 14, J. Cameron 25; Graham Peacock 32, N. Fysse 16; Hugh McCrindle 18, J. McNeil 24; James Gribben 21, J. Finnigan 27.

On Saturday, Ayrshire head to Campbeltown to play Argyll & Bute. The coach leaves Ayr at 8.30am and Kilmarnock at 9.00am. Players are requested to be at the pick-up points at least 15 minutes earlier.

Rink 1: Kevin Boyd (Irvine Pk), Scott Stevenson (Ardross), Jim Hopkins (Galston LWM), Johnny Carswell (Blacklands); Rink 2: Frank McCartney (Dreghorn), Jim Cumming (Crosshill), Ian Galloway (Dalry), Colin Smith (Tarbolton); Rink 3: Chris Duffy (Craigie), Craig Cobbledick (Coylton), Sandy Graham (Drongan), Garry Johnstone (Auchinleck); Rink 4: Jamie Campbell (Ardrossan), Jock Druggan (Auchinleck), Willie McKenzie (Cumnock), Douglas Watson (Mauchline); Rink 5: Graham Iley (Ardross), John Wardrope (Saltcoats), Billy Anderson (Annbank), Jim Black (Dalmellington); Rink 6: Andrew Marshall (Newton Pk), Donnie McWhirter (Dailly), Gordon Nelson (Newton Pk), Graeme Campbell (Newton Pk).

On Saturday, Ayr County play Wigtownshire at Springhill. Players should report at that club at 1.15pm.

Rink 1: John Tait (Maidens), Gordon Hamilton (Darvel), Brian Queen (Galston), David Conway (Dalmellington); Rink 2: Martin Williamson (Irvine Pk), Steven Caldwell (Kay Park), Gerry King (Northwest), Jim Hume (Springhill); Rink 3: James Anderson (Northwest), Gary Kennedy (Peter Boyle), Alistair Parker (Dundonald), Steven Dudgeon (Dundonald); Rink 4: Graeme Williamson (Irvine Pk), Craig McArthur (Dundonald), Eddie Duncan (Cumnock), Graham Peacock (Hurlford); Rink 5: Bob Morris (Girdle Toll), Graeme Hume (Springhill), Cameron Wilson (Kil Portland), Hugh McCrindle (Cumnock); Rink 6: Craig Adrain (Irvine Pk), Iain McIlwraith (Girvan), Francis Leitch (Mauchline), James Gribben (Glaisnock); Reserves: Jamie Hume (Springhill), Derek McCabe (Newton Pk), Jim Fleming (Mauchline).

Ayrshire under 25s led from start to finish as they beat Wigtownshire 122-87 at Stranraer on Sunday.

There were no failures but four changes have been made in an attempt to further strengthen the team for the visit of Lanarkshire to Irvine Park on Sunday May 24. It’s the make or break game of the championship section and must be won to qualify for the later stages. The under 25s have no game this weekend.

Scores: Scott McNeillie 30, D. Arnott 15; Alan Campbell 26, D. Kiltie 4; Kevin Boyd 17, A. Higgins 17; James Gibson 20, A. Lyons 12; Chris Duffy 12, B. Greenhill 18; Graeme Hume 17, A. McLurg 21.

The team to play Lanarkshire at Irvine Park on May 24 is:

Team 1: Dean Clark (Riccarton), James Anderson (Northwest), Craig Adrain (Irvine Pk), Scott McNeillie (Rankinston); Team 2: Stuart Wyllie (Seaf), Drew Dunlop (Hawkhill), Craig Cobbledick (Coylton), Alan Campbell (Crosshill); Team 3: Craig Nelson (Townholm), Steven McAllister (Riccarton), Martin Williamson (Irvine Pk), Kevin Boyd (Irvine Pk); Team 4: Aaron Coulter (Crosshill), Stuart Malcolm (Saltcoats), Derek Smith (Auchinleck), James Gibson (Auchinleck); Team 5: Adam Johnston (Ardrossan), Stewart Dunlop (Rankinston), Scott Wilson (Ardrossan), Chris Duffy (Craigie); Team 6: Neil Goldie (Skelmorlie), Graeme Williamson (Irvine Pk), Graeme Hume (Springhill), Craig England (Northfield); Reserves: Jamie Hume (Springhill), Paul Fisher (Ardrossan), Chris Carswell (Blacklands), Ryan McLaughlin (Townholm), Garry Wells (Kilmaurs).