Prestwick bowlers Michael Higgins and Morris Sturgeon in senior semis

Dec 24 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

PRESTWICK duo Michael Higgins and Morris Sturgeon have qualified for the national senior pairs semi finals.

They had beaten Galleon in an earlier round to play on home soil for theirremaining two qualifying matches. In the last 16, they were given a bye as Inverclyde decided not to travel due to the adverse weather conditions.

This set up a quarter-final clash with a strong Blantyre pairing. The match was always fairly tight but Prestwick won 15-14 to book their place at the senior finals event at Alloa on Saturday and Sunday, February 26 and 27.

The Prestwick trio of Willie Kennedy, Willie Scott and John Docherty came up just short in their battle for a place at the senior finals.

They were also due to face Inverclyde in their opening game on Sunday and received a bye before progressing to play Ardrossan in the quarter-final. However, the team of Bernie McFadden, Bill Chisholm and Colin McLatchie proved just too strong for Prestwick coming out 15-10 winners.

The senior team moved back to the top of the section with a 40 shot win against Ayr. Prestwick started strongly from the first end and dominated winning on all four rinks.

Scores: Cliff Eade 21, Bert Storrie 11; Michael Higgins 14, George Hodge 10; Morris Sturgeon 28, George Jack 3; Alan Paxton 21, Jack Hutchison 16.

The win sees Prestwick sit with 14 points from their 10 matches, Glasgow have 12 points from nine, Auchinleck and Newton Stewart have 12 points from 10.

Prestwick travel to Glasgow in the first match of the New Year in a game that will go a long way to deciding the section.

Prestwick teams fell short in the national pairs qualifiers over the weekend with the gents winning their opening match against Castlemilk before losing to East Kilbride. The ladies pairing decided not to travel due to the condition of the road.

Prestwick holds an open two bowl triples from Tuesday to Thursday, December 28 to 30, sponsored by Wallaces Express. Play starts at 6.30pm each night and finishes around 10.15pm. Competing teams should report by 6pm at the very latest.

Groups A, B and C play on Tuesday 28th and Groups D, E and F play on Wednesday 29. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be played on Thursday 30.

Draw details: Group A: M. Cowley (Prestwick), L McCulloch (Prestwick), J Stuart (Inverclyde) and D Boyd (Prestwick); Group B: A Thomson (Prestwick), C Weir (Prestwick), S Yates (Ayr) and B Fulton (Prestwick); Group C: M Williamson (Irvine), T McLarty (Prestwick), B McArthur (Auchinleck) and A Day (East Kilbride); Group D: J Williamson (Auchinleck), C Eade (Prestwick), E Goodwin (Prestwick) and M Kerr (Prestwick); Group E: S Dunlop (Prestwick), J Thomson (Prestwick), J Bruce (Prestwick) and M Higgins (Prestwick); S Robertson (Auchinleck), A Williamson (Prestwick), J Walker (Prestwick) and J Candlish (Prestwick).

Half yearly memberships are now being taken at Prestwick so anyone interested in joining for the second half of the year should make enquiries at the stadium. The cost for a half yearly membership is only £31. Anyone taking out this membership will be eligible to play in all competitions within the club.

Presidents Joe Reid and Jean Paterson wish everyone involved with bowling in Ayr and Prestwick a very merry Christmas and a happy and successful New Year.

The stadium will close at 5pm on Christmas Eve and reopen on Monday. It will again close at 5pm on Hogmanay and reopen on Monday, January 3.