Birnie gain promotion to top tier in Morayshire Indoor Bowling Association's Alexander Wallace (Toyota) league
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The final round of fixtures in the Alexander Wallace (Toyota) second division saw three teams Birnie, Forres Victoria and Duffus all chasing automatic promotion to the first division with only two points separating the three clubs.
Champions Lhanbryde, who clinched the title the previous week, travelled to Birnie where Neil Roger and Andrew Furr both won close encounters 14-11 and 12-11 to give the champions a narrow advantage going into the second session.
Birnie’s chances of promotion suffered another setback when Robert Wildgoose won another tight game 13-11. Bryce Milne continued his fine season scoring 12 shots in the last five ends to win 17-6 for an overall team victory and four points as the village club would have to wait and see how their closest challengers got on when they went head-to-head the following evening.
Forres Victoria and Duffus both knew they would require a maximum six points to overhaul Birnie.
Hosts Forres made the first move Charlie Watt and Paul Rogan both securing comfortable wins to win the first to points.
Paul Coutts edged out Gibby Philips by one shot to make it three wins. In the last game Andy Crerar led 8-5 for the visitors with two ends to play and despite a valiant effort from Forres skip Harry Sutherland the visitors won the last two ends as Forres saw their hopes of promotion dashed for this season.
They scored four points with Duffus taking two points and Birnie could celebrate their promotion to the top division.
Fogwatt ended their campaign with maximum points away to Lossie Bowling Club A, Ronnie Watt, Will Muir and Gordon Wiles all winning close games en-route to a 46 shots to 40 shot win.
Lossiemouth rounded off their season at home to coastal rival Hopeman B with all four games keenly contested.
Despite the visitors winning two matches and drawing the third, M. Morrison's margin of victory in the first session was enough to give the hosts victory.
