Forres woman bowls over the competition to reach major final

Forres Bowling Club's Mary Sobey will play Isobel Laing from Elgin in the final of the Bowls Scotland District 2 Over 55 Ladies Singles at Huntly on Saturday 14 June. The winner of which will earn a place in the National Finals at Ayr on Friday, July 27.

In the quarter-finals at Fochabers, Mary lost her opening three ends to Aberchirder's Carol Michie.

She then won five on the spin to lead 10-3. A maximum at the twelfth end had her comfortably 14-6 up. Dobey was 19-11 ahead playing the 20th end, where she lost a four. Nerves were set aside, and Sobey regained her composure to win 21-15.

Sobey took command of her semi-final early on against Stella Grant of the host club, Fochabers, scoring three at the opening end. A maximum at the ninth end had her 12-4 ahead. Grant scored two maximums of her own, at the 13th and 17th ends, but Mary kept plugging away to win 21-16.

Forres were defeated 6-2 by visitors Dufftown in the Preliminary Round of the Top Ten.

Dean Dobbs and Julie Garrick had an excellent game in the singles where Dobbs had the better of the early exchanges, but a maximum for Garrick at the ninth end tied the score at 9-9. Dean edged ahead again, but lost another four at the fourteenth end which put Julie 15-12 up. Dean won the next three ends to go in front again. Julie led 19-17 going into the 20th end. Dean was holding three shots with a bowl each to play. Julie played an excellent final bowl to win the shot, and she finished the game at the following end.

Dufftown's Mike Morgan and Andy Wright were in control throughout their pairs tie against John Ross and Sandy Burgess. John and Sandy were just coming back into the game when they lost an EIGHT at the ninth end. That killed the game.

Paul Corrin, Skibo McKenzie and Gary Mackie had a solid start against John Tune, Neville Pitts and Ian McDonald in the triples, but seven shots lost over three ends mid-game turned the tide in Dufftown's favour.

The rink of Sam Morrison, Henry Davidson, Harry Sutherland and John Matthews were the star men for Forres. They had an excellent first half, leading David Christie, Pat McDonald, June Sutherland and Fred MacDonald 18-1 after eight ends. Fred's team improved in the second half.

The Forres Open Pairs takes place this weekend, with Aviemore's John Smith and Craig Feltham keen to capture the trophy for the third year in a row.