IN complete contrast to the opening day, the second day of play in the Bowls Scotland National Championship Ayr Northfield was bathed in glorious sunshine, but despite the improved weather, there were some surprise casualties who failed to win through to today senior singles, fours and mixed pairs semi-finals and then title deciders this afternoon.
Hugh Smith from Stonehouse and Rothesay's Donald McKellar started the day with an interest in both the singles and mixed pairs events, but at the end of a full day of play only McKellar had retained an interest in the singles as Smith went down in both.
McKellar opened his day with a 21-14 win over Gifford's Sandy Plenderleith then last night carried his singles interest into today's closing stages coming through against Derry Milne from Carnoustie West End where he scored a hat-trick of doubles over the last three ends to win 21-10.
In the intervening Mixed challenge, along with Violet Westland, his tilt at both titles was ended as they went down 18-11 to Cupar duo Alastair Nimmo and skip Ruth Stewart who in turn booked their place in the semis against Inverness, after a 16-15 win over fancied contenders Kerry Fraser and Martyn Rice from Dumfries.
Smith started his day in the singles, and after a 21-17 second round win against Balgonie's David Leitch, he then surprisingly saw his challenge fall by the wayside 21-10 to Sighthill's Adam Melrose, who said: "I struggled with weight. I could find the lines but the B Green was a lot heavier than the one I played on this morning."
In between times in the Mixed event, the Stonehouse partnership enjoyed a good 16-7 win over defending champions against Mary Price and her grandson John McDermott from Sighthill and then in a rescheduled quarter-final match, they lost to title favourites Vikki Leishman and Steven Glen from Carron & Carronshore 23-12. They now meet Tranent duo Dee Hogan and John McCrorie.
In the other singles, Peter Godfrey from Grangemouth Railway trailed Kirkcolm's Bobby McKie 13-14 but scored on seven of the last eight ends to run out the 21-17 winner and he meets Melrose while Peter Jones from Houldworth led from the start against Troon's Willie McCallum, won 21-14 and continues against McKellar.
There won't be a third successive Senior Fours title for Upper Cowal, with Davy Beattie's team beaten in last night's quarter finals 18-11 by Winchburgh. In the semis, Winchburgh meet Midlothian club Kirkhill while Kennoway will clash with Muirhead & Birkhill.
In today's women's title deciders, there should be some good action with Jean Fisher from Bridge of Allan producing a stunning fightback against Rattray's Cath Kinnear. She hit back from 20-11 down reeling off ten shots over the last five ends to edge a 21-20 victory and now meets Upper Cowal's Helen McVicar.
In the bottom half of the draw, former international skips Betty Duckett from Rutherglen and Seona Black from Bonnybridge clash.
Duckett survived a late scare, but got home against Cumnock's Jean Sykes 21-18 while Black saw off the challenge from Greenfaulds' Irene Hannah, who had taken the scalp of Linlithgow's Lorna Smith in the first round, 21-9.
In the Senior Fours, Zetland clash with Westhill and Neilston meet Cardonald.
Today the mainstream events get underway with play now commencing in the men's and women's fours and pairs.
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