Stewartry’s poor track record on Castle Douglas green continues.

Stewartry 107   -   Ayr County 112

We may get the rink scores when the Secretary sobers-up and can remember where he left the cards!!

George Brown 14 Graeme Peacock 17

Keith Shuttleworth 16 Jim Hume 23

Scott Davies 28 Hugh McCrindle 14

Scott McCubbin 10 Gerry King 20

Alastair Herries 16 Alastair Parker 13

Martin McClymont 23 Steven Dudgeon 25

Stewartry Team v Ayr County – 19/06/10

RESERVES (in alphabetical order):   Stewart Gilmour CD, Jim Maginnis Creetown and Ralph Richardson New Abbey.

Stewartry v Dumfriesshire – 12/06/10 at Marchmount

Well as the saying goes so near yet so far! Another really good performance but where in previous weeks we have finished well, this week we got stung by a really great fight back from Dumfriesshire. All credit to Brian and his team they dug in well from 15 ends onwards and scored 48 shots across the green in last 30 ends.

Rink 1 – This week Sharkey was on the clubhouse rink and had a great tussle with Barney going right to the death with only 1 shot in it at the end. Gav against SBA finalist Sparky played well and along with Eric had the better of the front ends. Jimmy Little certainly made plenty of noise when he played a good bowl, Natch on the other was shouting at not only his own rink but all others as well, whether he was playing a good bowl or not. Sharkey and Barney seemed to do what they had to each end and Sharky just sneaked it. Well done lads great work.

Rink 2 – The consistent Kirkcudbright rink gave everything they had, but found Bob Steele at the top of his game. Another excellent display from Robert McClune and I believe he has the ability and temperament to become a real Stewartry stalwart in years to come. Probably find of the year as far as I am concerned. The rink played well and Big Brian tried hard to use his experience to get them through unfortunately this week it wasn’t to be. Stevie J was steady throughout and George probably had his weakest game but only by the standards he has set this year. Unlucky today lads.

Rink 3 – Flash was up against Laurence Moffat and again produced a strong performance. Wee Tam must have wished every end was played towards road because he was getting a great road; unfortunately coming back was trickier. With Ian and young Cly, backing up the lead bowls there was some high scoring for both sides, with Flash just prevailing. Flash certainly tried to outdo the manager with some of his runs up the green; you just don’t have the build yet big man! Again, well done boys.

Rink 4 – Was the rink with 2 changes and perhaps it was too many since they never settled into a rhythm at all and always seemed to be chasing the game. The closest they got was to within 5 shots but were unable to maintain this. Michael has had a good series of games and probably was best of the 4 this week. Stewart, Conc and Scott all struggled for line, length or both, best forgotten lads and look forward to next week.

Rink 5 – I predicted that if Bruce clicked this rink would really get a score and this was so close to it. A well worked 5 at a crucial stage by Martyn Rice stopped the rot not only in this rink but also overall for Dumfriesshire and was the springboard for their comeback. But that does not detract from a great rink performance from Keith and his team, Papa Joe and Tom Rogers kept it tight at front end and at times if Bruce drew to an inch, Keith would draw inside. This rink were well on the way to a rout if that 5 had not been lost, Keith only a foot too far with his last bowl. Another captain’s performance and it makes it tight for the top performer award now.

Rink 6 – I am at a loss to describe how I feel about this rink, I have to accept some blame at putting such a young rink together, but I do believe this type of experience will make them better bowlers. Gary and Ronan really struggled on a difficult rink many ends were won with bowls a foot or so away! So that gives you an idea. Alan and Marty tried to get back in game but forcing shots just did not work and so hopefully a lesson learned. But I cannot fault the effort, Marty like myself hates defeat and takes it personally, chin up wee man you have a lot to play for yet.

Overall then again no disappointment in the performance, but result was just not to be, despite being 17 up at one point – big board maybe showed more but it was wrong. With one game to go a win would finish the season off in great style, but we all have to consider it improvement nothing more. Success is only in qualification in this kind of format. As Bob has already indicated Saturday will be my last game in charge at my home green, where I am President, against my birth county. So if you think I have been noisy up to now – you ain’t seen nothing’ yet!!

It has been a privilege to have worked with you guys this year, some real highs, and some real lows. This has been the Stewartry’s first year with a team manager and I hope that the committee can stick with it and find someone to carry this on. This has been a rollercoaster for me and has been emotionally draining and exhilarating at the same time. I have made mistakes in selection at times, I have tried to bring through younger players and had to rely on some experienced players being willing to come back in. We do not have the resources or players that our opponents do and we should perhaps take that into account when we analyse our results. However we do have some real ability and when that is harnessed with clubs preparing greens to ensure home advantage counts then we will always hold our own.

I would like to thank our sponsors, Martin and Green, John McGaw Electrics and Stewartry Care for their generosity. I would also like to thank County Secretary Stevie Conchar for all his work and support this season. Finally to President Graeme, Vice-President Arthur, Hamish, Rooker, John McGarrie, Les Shuttleworth and wee Tam your support was unwavering and always appreciated I am just sorry that together we could not make that final step and qualify and I hope you can forgive me for that. Also big thanks to wee Bob for putting these ramblings on the website every week. To all Stewartry bowlers it is easy to criticise and find fault with anything that is done, believe it or not it is even easier to help out. Whether as a club rep, player, committee member or manager, this county needs everyone pulling together, do what you can, and help make a dream a reality.

Stevie informs all that he is retiring as secretary at end of season.

Hughie gives up as team manager.

Then we manage to loose to Dumfriesshire.  3 rinks up and 3 down but lost over all.

Dumfriesshire v Stewartry

Rink 1 R Graham 17 S Davies 18
Rink 2 R Steel 26 G Brown 22
Rink 3 L Moffat 24 A Herries 25
Rink 4 R Thompson 28 S McCubbin 11
Rink 5 M Rice 19 K Shuttleworth 27
Rink 6 C Peacock 23 M McClymont 12

Dumfriesshire 137 – Stewartry 115

Stewartry Team v Dumfriesshire – 12/06/10

RESERVES (in alphabetical order):   Ronan Crossan Auchencairn, Stewart Gilmour CD, Jim Maginnis Creetown and Ralph Richardson New Abbey.

Stewartry v Dunbartonshire East 05/06/10 at New Abbey.

Well Saturday turned out to be a hot day in more ways than one. New Abbey green was playing at least 3 yards faster than I have ever seen it and all credit to all players involved in making this a very exciting game. I thought that games this season could not possibly get any tenser - how wrong can you be?

Rink 1 – As I said last week it was only going to be a matter of time before Flash was back to his usual ways and he responded immediately. Although never a lot in the game he was always in front and in fact in early part of game was our only scorer. Young Ronan has certainly had a baptism of fire this year and I hope he is learning from every experience he is getting. Ian Carter is as reliable as a swiss watch and on Saturday he played some great head setting bowls. Alan Cly, has set himself high standards and now faces the task of living up to them, I’m sure next week he will fulfil all expectations. Flash himself has not played badly this season but has not got results – he got it big style today so hopefully that will bring the bounce back for next weeks big game.

Rink 2 – I am beginning to run out of words to express as a manager how much joy this rink brings, without seeming to start the Geordie appreciation society. But this week exceeded everything else, 16 – 1 down after 9 ends and 19 – 10 down after 15, they never lost another shot and ran out 23 – 19 winners. Again this was a great rink effort with all 4 players contributing at different parts of game, young Robert is developing into a fine lead and Stevie J has his confidence back. Big Brian was below his own high standards in early part of game nut from halfway was immense. George himself does as George does, keeps things simple and plays the percentage game – well done lads.

Rink 3 – This was a game that just seemed to slip away from this rink that in part was due to Big Geo and his lads handling the jack length better than the Stewartry boys but there perhaps is a lesson that more than one rink should have learned, control of jack and first bowl was crucial on Saturday and keeping jack was perhaps a better idea, perhaps more use could have made of Conc, but still a good performance. Hoopy will have better games and Matteo will hit top gear after some more green time this week.  Marty and his rink led most of game and there was only one in it at 18 ends. They managed to get 2 singles to set up for a good finish and I will come back to that later.

Rink 4 – Captain Keith on his own green was one of my bankers for this week and he did not disappoint the rink managed to build a good platform from ends 5 to 18 and were able to withstand a slight comeback to pull away in last couple of ends. Papa Joe  struggled in first few ends but a change of hand and he then settled in to a decent performance. Tom Rogers is without doubt a really dependable second and played the bowls to back up his lead. Brucie has not shown last seasons form yet and when he does this rink will really take some stopping. Keith as always played some great conversion shots and drew when required. Good win.

Rink 5 – If this is Reech’s last game this season he will be very disappointed, on a very tricky rink they struggled all day for line and length but never gave up and in fact a really good 2 on the last helped team position at the end. Michael had aquieter game than last 2 weeks, Neil Shuttleworth in first game at HT level for many years took some time to get going but came on strong towards end. Scott and Stevie toiled to get into game but all credit they never allowed situation to get them down although a couple of times it looked like it. As I said they got a good 2 on last to pull scores tighter going into last few ends.

Rink 6 – Sharkey got off to a quiet start but from 10 – 15 ends he and his rink pulled a good few shots away. Again credit to Tam Mac as he also played some great conversion bowls to put his rink right into contention. Gav again was solid at lead and was more than backed up by a good display from Eric at second. Natch started brightly but faded in second half of the game. Sharkey was good in middle part of the game when he played positively and got some results, whether the tightness of game got to him but he tightened towards end and was unable to get a turnover he needed to create a 5 on second last which would have been huge in overall terms. But overall another sound performance and with more to come, this rink are due for a big win.

Overall this game went to the wire and beyond, Dunbartonshire were up for most of game and only once did Stewartry lead by a small margin. Last 3 ends involved rinks 1, 3 and 4. Marty was 4 down with a bowl to come Keith was lying 1 with a bowl to come and Flash was 3 up with 4 bowls to go. Marty tried to take out shots or move jack, unfortunately he was high and bowl sailed through head. 4 down 2 rinks still on, Flash plays first bowl makes 4, opposing skip plays backhand clips jack high bowl but turns it away and runs on, still 4 Stewartry. Keith tries to draw another shot since opposing skip has altered head to stop Keith playing weight to move jack for a 4 or 5. Tight from his hand falls just short, 1 Stewartry 3 down 2 bowls to come. Flash does not really want to alter head or finish jack level, draws on forehand finishes yard away but just inside line. Sommerville has played on backhand previous shot changes hand to try and get a close shot looks heavy slide past front of head and catches Flashes first bowl and stops, slight cheers from Dunbartonshire Flash calls for measure, third measures Stewartry lie 3 tied game. Once again boys you don’t half put me through it but well done I am proud to be part of such a fighting squad you all know what we have to do, I will put team up later in week, once I have considered all my options.

Stewartry v Dumbartonshire 
Rink 1 A Herries 25 W Somerville 21

Rink 2 G Brown 23 J Wilson 19

Rink 3 M McClymont 19 G McCartney 22

Rink 4 K Shuttleworth 27 R Reid 18

Rink 5 S Richardson 11 G Tait 23

Rink 6 S Davies 21 T McCartney 23

DRAW 126 EACH

   RESERVES (in alphabetical order):   Stewart Gilmour CD, Stewart McClymont Creetown, Jim Maginnis Creetown, Tom Maxwell CD and Ralph Richardson New Abbey.

Glasgow East v Stewartry - Mount Florida 29/05/10

Well this report will be a bit briefer than previous since I was called into action on Saturday due to a couple of players being stuck in the serious road accident near Hamilton. But apart from a few times when big scoreboard was way out this was less stressful than previous weeks.

Rink 1 this week was Stevie Richardson and after their near miss the previous week, Reech got a great result which was down to a real rink performance right through. Mickey T at lead has had his best Hamilton Trophy for years and set up play for Scott and Reech to build their heads. Again the team spirit from this 4 was excellent good win.

Rink 2 Keith just came in as players were going out for trial end and the manager was delighted to see him arrive. Keith was also going to have the additional burden of being saddled with yours truly and assistant John McGarry. Not for me to comment on how we played but the scoreline don’t lie. Special mention to second Tom Rogers who came into his own especially when lead got caught up in trying to keep momentum going in other rinks. Keith settled in after a fairly slow start and led rink to a fine victory.

Rink 3 raised a few eyebrows in selection terms but the experience of Big Conc at lead and last years strong back end of Marty and Matteo paid off big style. Hoopy knows he can play better and he will but he did contribute at a crucial time in game. Young back end again proved their worth and taking advice from the experienced Conc meant they ground out a good result.

Rink 4 was the only losing rink and I’m sure they will all have been gutted by this, however they will come back and I hope there were some lessons learned. Having said that Colin Simpson and Charters at the back end played really well according to my assistants who paid close attention to this game. With some slight tinkering and advice given I’m certain Flash will be smiling soon. All credit to him though he never stopped encouraging every other rink and whooping big bowls, great team spirit was echoed when he himself was trying to get back into game and others were voicing their support towards him.

Rink 5 Sharkey after last weeks defeat had a new look front end and I’m sure the Hammer and Eric will say that made all the difference but again a good solid rink performance. With Natch giving Sharkey the confidence to play shots and setting up opportunities for him. From limited observation there can be no doubt that the front end did play well so keep it going lads.

Rink 6 If you can use the term evergreen when describing a Brown then this surely fits, this very strong Kirkcudbright rink produced just exactly what was expected a clear and decisive win. The team spirit which is being developed really shows its essence in this rink, Brian McClune who undoubtedly could skip in any of our rinks is happy to sub to George and help in the development of Stevie J and young Robert. Great performance lads, keep it up.

Finally I have mentioned spirit more than once and I have to say what we may lack in ability is more than being made up for in spirit. John McGarry wearing borrowed shoes and waterproof trousers and playing with Concs other 2 bowls was an example to all, cheers big man. Also big mention to Stewart McClymont who has declared himself unavailable to allow Alan to play next week, great gesture Stewart and it is really appreciated. As I have said numerous times Saturday is a huge game lets get focussed lads and get another win. Team will be put up on Wednesday once I have considered all options.

Stewartry 130 Glasgow East 91