President Dean Dobbs keeps the flag flying for Forres Bowling Club in the Scottish National Championship qualifiers
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There have been mixed results so far for Forres Bowling Club in the Scottish National Championship qualifiers, writes Alex Porter.
Dean Dobbs is through to the second round of the gents' singles after defeating Elgin's Zander Christie 21-15 at Hopeman.
Christie began the game well, picking up three shots at the first end but after half a dozen ends, Dobbs had taken a 7-4 lead.
Winning four ends on the trot, the game then swung back in Christie's favour at 11-7 but the scores were tied after 16 ends.
Dobbs then pressed ahead, finishing the match six ends later. He travels to Buckie next Thursday to meet a player from Banff.
Mary Sobey won her over-55s singles' quarter-final against her Aberchirder opponent 21-3 at Keith, but was unfortunately then beaten 21-5 by Isobel Laing (Elgin) in the semi-finals.
Sam Morrison, Derek Crosby, Brian Caldwell and Derek Sobey were destroyed 28-5 by Tommy Webster's Huntly side in the over-55s fours at Fochabers. They never recovered from going 13-0 down just three ends in.
Forres' top ten challenge began and ended at Aberchirder when they found themselves on the wrong end of an 8-0 drubbing.
In the singles, Paul Coutts lost his first five ends to trail 11-0. Although he hit three at the next end, the tie lasted only twelve ends in a 21-5 defeat.
Charlie Watt and John Matthews got off to an even worse start in the pairs, trailing 14-0 after five ends.
They were so far back that even scoring a six at the 12th couldn't get them close. It finished 22-17 to Aberchirder.
The Forres triples team of Kevin McWilliam, Brian Caldwell and Davie Petrie more than held their own for the first nine ends against Kevin Beaton's side, leading 9-4.
However they lost the final six ends as the home team registered a 19-7 victory.
Gary Mackie's rink, which included Sam Morrison, Henry Davidson and Brian Riddell, scored three shots at the initial end. Unfortunately, it was another dozen ends before they scored again and the final score was 28-7 to Aberchirder.
Forres are still winless in the over-55s league after tasting defeat in the local derby at Grant Park.
Peggy Locke and Sam Morrison had a great game, hitting a five and dropping just one shot over their first ten ends. They took their foot off the gas over the final four ends, but still won 17-5.
In a match where all four players played with red bowls, Elma McInnes and David Petrie had a close game with their opponents for seven ends. However, they then lost four ends on the bounce and eventually succumbed 14-6.
Ailene Matthews and Charlie Watt were able to win just two ends in their 23-5 defeat.
Forres travel to Moray Bowling Club for next Tuesday's game.
Reluctant skip, Lesley Mackintosh, and Ailene Matthews won Thursday's moving hat-night.
They kept on the move and dropped just four single shots all evening. They were so far in front, they could afford to draw their final set.
John Matthews was 15-1 up after only five ends. The tide turned on him at the tenth end after leading 20-2.
Lesley Coutts hit two fives as she won all of her sets. If only she hadn't dropped so many ends.
Although he lost a high-scoring first set 9-5, Brian Riddell got his act together and won his remaining sets.
Henry Davidson was only beaten in one set, producing a great second half performance after trailing 8-3.
Leading 16-8 with a handful of ends to play, Stuart Robertson was brought back down to earth.
A heavy third set defeat spoiled Sandy Burgess' evening. He won all his other sets.
It was the seventh end before Alex Porter even had a shot to record. A solitary third set win didn't brighten his night much.
Trailing 16-1 at one point, Mary Sobey was glad of her chance to move after the third set.
After spending the entire evening on rink 4, Derek Sobey finally mastered it in the last set.
A draw in the fourth set was all Sheena Murdoch had to show for her time spent on rink 2.
Charlie Watt won the toss, but little else. Five single shots all night.
Scores: L Mackintosh 19 up; J Matthews 12 up; L Coutts 11 up; B Riddell 10 up; H Davidson 9 up; S Robertson 2 up; A Burgess 2 down; A Porter 9 down; M Sobey 11 down; D Sobey 11 down; S Murdoch 14 down; C watt 16 down.
The first of the internal competitions, the two-bowl pairs, will be held this Sunday.
