masters

The 2006 North of Scotland Junior Masters Tournament commenced at 9.15am on Saturday 2nd September to fine settled weather without Cumbernauld's Alison Robbie who failed to turn up for the competition. The 31 competitors served up a magnificent weekend of bowling and were all a great ambassadors for Junior bowling in Scotland and a credit to their respective clubs.

Snapshot of some Group Games 1

Early pace makers were 4 of Thurso B.C's youngsters with Marina Bain, Andrew Buttress, Darren Miller and Alan Morrison all recording wins in their first group matches. Elsewhere 2004 Junior Masters Champion Ewan Fraser from The Inverness B.C got off to a bad start losing 21-6 to Darren Pirie from Fraserburgh B.C and Brora's Mathew Norrie notched up a good 16-14 win over far travelled Gilmerton Midlothians Steven Currie. Michael Stepney of Burghead had a comfortable 17-9 win against Abergeldie B.C's Greig Douglas. After a sticky start Phil Nicol from Brechin took command against New Pitsligo star Lynne Stuart winning 21-10. Last minute reserve Andrew Manson from Wick Rosebank started his campaign with a stunning 21-12 win against highly rated 15yr old Andrew Adamson from Ardross Alness. One of the furthest travelled female players Alison McDougall from Bainfield in Edinburgh never got into her stride going down 21-6 to experienced Paul Lyon of Macduff B.C, as did Cheryl Rodger from Strathmore Coupar Angus who lost out 21-8 to Junior International Skip Kevin Beaton from Aberchirder. Last years runner-up Dave McGill from Moniefeith found Banchory's Ian Humble another junior Internationalist to hot to handle going down 18-9.

Snapshot of some Group Games 2

Fraserburghs Darren Pirie went up a gear with superb bowling coming from behind to outplay Thurso's Darren Miller 21-9, whilst Turriff's Gary Hepburn turned around a 8 shot deficit to stun Ewan Fraser 21-20. Andrew Buttress of Thurso B.C also turned around a deficit to snatch a 19-14 win from Lynne Stuart of New Pitsligo Elsewhere Wick Rosebank's James Murray and Wick St Fergus's Lindsey Thomson both playing in their first ever Masters Tournament found the going tough, James losing 21-10 to Phil Nicol and Lindsey losing 21-5 to Marina Bain. Elgin's Andrew Barker ran out of time going down 17-16 to Mathew Norrie, whilst Andrew Manson of Wick Rosebank recorded his second win 21-19 against Edinburgh girl Alison McDougall. Greig Douglas from Abergeldie got up and running with a 21-13 win over Glasgow Shettleston's Roddy Farmer, whilst fun loving Michael Stepney from St Aethans Burghead lost 21-10 to Andrew Macrae of Inverness Fraser Park effectively ending his Tournament. Kyle Gibson of The Inverness B.C got his first points with a tightly fought 17-12 win against Dave McGill and another last minute reserve Daniel Mackintosh from Nairn Albert St B.C nearly stole the glory against Aberchirders Kevin Beaton losing 21-18.

Snapshot of some Group Games 3

Ewan Fraser got his first points with a 21-6 win over Thurso's Darren Miller, whilst Leah Taylor from Thurso also got her first points beating Wick's Lindsey Thomson 21-12. Top man from Macduff David Mitchell held on for a 17-16 victory against Iain Humble whilst Marina Bain of Thurso B.C had tough 18-17 win over Tain St Duthus B.C's Duncan Farmer in their group decider. Also losing in group deciders were Thurso's pair Andrew Buttress to Phil Nicol of Brechin and Alan Morrison to the fire power of Kevin Beaton of Aberchirder. Top players Steven Currie from Gilmerton Midlothian and Andrew Barker of Elgin shared the points with a 15-15 draw, whilst Andrew Macrae ended Greig Douglas's interest with a 21-14 win. Strathmore B.C's Cheryl Rodger finished her first ever trip to Thurso with a deserved 21-15 win over Nairns Daniel Mackintosh. Andrew Adamson showed his qualities in a 21-5 win over Alison McDougall from Edinburgh, and also Dave McGill ended on a high winning 21-11 against David Mitchell from Macduff.

QUARTER-FINALS

Andrew Macrae (Inverness Fraser Park) v Kevin Beaton (Aberchirder)

After a very tentative start Kevin edged into a 9-7 lead before Andrew snatched 4 shots to go 11-9 up. With some well placed bowls Andrew ran away with 8 shots in 4 ends to win 21-13.

Phil Nicol (Brechin) v Paul Lyon (Macduff)

Phil raced into a 14-4 lead after 7 ends before he turned on the style with some excellent drawing bowls to run out a comfortable winner 21-9.

Mathew Norrie (Brora) v David Mitchell (Macduff)

Mathew Norrie (Brora) It was tit for tat in the first 9 ends and with the score standing at 11-11 David decided to go up a gear into a 16-11 lead. Mathew tried very hard to stay with him but lost out 21-13.

Darren Pirie (Fraserburgh) v Marina Bain (Thurso)

Darren gained the upper hand early on storming into a 20-8 lead with a superb display of drawing bowls before Marina launched her comeback but was just too late going down 21-17.

SEMI-FINALS

Darren Pirie (Fraserburgh) v David Mitchell (Macduff)

David slowly gained an 8-3 advantage, then a feast of great drawing bowls kept the scores tight at 16-16 after 20 ends before Darren held his nerve to reach the final 21-18.

Phil Nicol (Brechin) v Andrew Macrae (Inverness Fraser Park)

This semi had everything in it with Andrew racing into a 13-3 lead, Phil dug deep and brought the tie alive fighting back to 20-20. The superb accuracy both players served up was amazing in a memorable last end culminating with Andrew triumphant in a 21-20 photo finish.

FINAL

Darren Pirie (Fraserburgh) V Andrew Macrae (Inverness Fraser Park)

After both players were lead onto the green by young piper Bruce they gave each other the utmost respect in the early stages sharing a 11-11 scoreline after 17 ends. On the 18th and 19th end Darren took a 3 and a 4 to go 18-11 ahead and gain the upper hand. Andrew quickly regained his composure and came back to 18-15 but the writing was on the wall as the superb consistency of Darren's drawing shots took their toll on Andrew and he won the next 2 ends to claim a 21-15 win and be crowned the 2006 North of Scotland Junior Masters Champion and take home £500 and the Caithness Glass Trophy.