Seven Ayrshire bowlers will play for Scotland

Jan 28 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

SEVEN Ayrshire players will represent Scotland in the British Isles Internationals in March after coming through weekend trials.

Heading to Stanley Indoor are Paul Boyd (Prestwick), Stewart Anderson (Auchinleck) and Paul Foster (East Lothian) with Foster being named as captain in his 15th year representing Scotland at indoor level.

Jean Sykes, Claire Johnston (both Auchinleck) and Michelle Cooper (Ardrossan) retain their places in the ladies team with Mary Anne Cooper (Ardrossan) selected for the first time. There was disappointment for Scott McKenzie, Anne Brown and Josephine Williamson who were not selected after trialling on Sunday.

Prestwick gents ended their league campaign with a 92-80 defeat away at Blantyre. Prestwick have now finished their set of matches and sit third in the section on 10 points.

The only outstanding game left to play is East Fife against Blantyre. A win for Blantyre would see Prestwick finish the season in a still creditable fourth place.

Prestwick ladies lost 77-68 at home to league leaders Galleon on Saturday. The match was in the balance throughout and for periods it looked like the 100 per cent record of the Kilmarnock side could be in jeopardy.

Scores: Betty McKinlay 20, Helen Findlay 10; Kathie Mitchell 23, Dorothy Marshall 15; Val O' Neill 16, Inez McCormack 23; Wilma Ogilvie lost to Jean McFedries.

Galleon have 20 points and have progressed to the playoff. Ardrossan, Ayr and East Kilbride all have 10 points with Prestwick on eight. There is one match still to be played with Prestwick hosting East Kilbride on Saturday, February 5 in a match that was delayed due to poor weather in December.

Ayr just fell short in their senior match with Glasgow resulting in Prestwick finishing second in the section. Glasgow now progress to the league quarter-finals and will face Coatbridge. Cumbernauld won the other south section and will meet the winner of this match.

Prestwick came up just short in the Ayrshire Top Nine competition. They finished one point short of winners Ardrossan in the all day competition hosted at Ardrossan. Irvine withdrew prior to the event starting but the other five Ayrshire clubs took part with Ardrossan finishing on 17 points and Prestwick on 16.

The ladies and gents national triples playdowns take place over the weekend. Allan Hendry, Junior Cole and Brian Fulton will represent Prestwick in the gents competition with Rita Miller, Lorna Thomson and Rose McAuley playing in the ladies.

The gents open against Newton Stewart with the ladies playing against Ayr. Blantyre is venue for both Prestwick teams.

The juniors play their first match in the Scottish Junior Top Ten competition on Sunday when they travel to Inverclyde.

Wednesday, February 2 sees the start of the knockout Scottish Senior Cup when Prestwick face Ardrossan at the Galleon.

Rink 1: David Brown, Willie Fulton, Eddie Doolan, Jim Fortune; Rink 2: Scott Watson, Jim Ross, Dougie McKie, Michael Higgins; Rink 3: Alec Thomson, Tom Howson, Joe Reid, Alan Paxton; Rink 4: Willie Kennedy, Hector Berretti, John Docherty, Morris Sturgeon.

The Scottish Knockout Senior Cup starts on Wednesday, February 2 with Prestwick playing Ardrossan at Galleon in the first round. Irvine do not compete in this competition because it is played on a Wednesday and this affects league play at the Magnum.