New season in full swing at Forres Bowling Club

Considering the fact that the indoor season is not quite finished, there was an excellent turnout at Forres Bowling Club's first hat-night of 2023.

Sandy Burgess found himself facing both the Men's and the Ladies' Champions of 2022, but still managed to take four shots at the initial end.

After ten ends of their tie, Alana Coutts and Derek Sobey held just a single shot 12-11 lead. However they then scored 26 without reply, including a six at the last, over the final half dozen ends.

Lesley Coutts dropped just four ends to Marjory McCarthy. However, four shots dropped over the final pair of ends cost her the plaudits.

Malcolm Swinswood got off to a great start, leading Dean Dobbs 10-1 five ends in. Dobbs won five of the remaining ends, but just by a single shot each time.

There was little between Mary Sobey and Gary Mackie in the first half of their game. Even with just a handful of ends left, Mackie just trailed 10-8. Sobey won all of those ends, including hitting a six at the last.

Both John Ross and Brian Riddell hit fives in their closely contested tie. Ross started the better, but Riddell made sure that they finished honours even.

Scores:

D Sobey 33, A Burgess 11

L Coutts 26, M McCarthy 6

M Swinswood 24, D Dobbs 6

M Sobey 22, G Mackie 8

J Ross 14, B Riddell 14.

Alana Coutts kept up her good start of season form at Thursday's Moving Hat-Night. She was part of Stuart Robertson's triple, which also included Marion Felton. They won all four sets.

Dean Dobbs also kept on the move, but lost his final three ends, and, in the process, his chance of winning the plaudits.

Brian Riddell was stranded on rink 2 for the evening. He will take some comfort from the way he finished the fourth set.

Marjory McCarthy never strayed from rink 1, where she lost all four sets.

Scores: S Robertson 12 up; D Dobbs 3 up; B Riddell 7 down; M McCarthy 8 down.

The first official hat-night in the four month quest to win the Scott Cup will take place next Monday at 7pm.