Third place win is seen by legend

Nov 14 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PERTH Bowling Club, under the leadership of Sam Sabbagh, entered six rinks at the European Amateur Bowls Tournament which was held in Vilamoura.

And they impressed legendary Scottish bowler Willie Wood with a third place finish.

Forty teams from all over the UK, Holland, Spain and Portugal competed in the five game, 21 ends tournament.

The Perth entry was made up of 18 players from Perth and six from Clydebank who shared the arrangements.

The Perth rink, skipped by Willie Gellatly and featuring Bob Fairlie, John Gibb and Sam Sabbagh, finished third overall after winning all five games and finishing 77 shots up – an excellent result in a top quality field.

On the whole, the Fair City team did very well. Gordon Christie's rink were in 10th place, only losing one game, and one of the least experienced rinks, skipped by Eric Barty, scored an eight at one end and received a prize for being the highest up rink on the day.

WELSHMAN John Price continued his fairy-tale run in the Dales Sports Surfaces Scottish International Open when he upset former champion David Gourlay to claim the first semi-final berth in the World Bowls Tour event at Dewars in Perth.

Less than 24 hours after ousting fifth-seeded compatriot Jason Greenslade, the 48-year-old from Port Talbot recovered from a set down to beat fourth seed Gourlay 4-8, 9-6, 2-0.

The surprise success marks Price's first appearance in the semi-finals of a WBT ranking event since January, 2005, when he contested the World Indoor Singles final in Norfolk.

In today’s first semi-final, at 1pm, Price will face the winner of the quarter-final match between defending champion Andy Thomson and fellow Englishman Mark Royal which was being played yesterday afternoon.

The final will take place tomorrow at 2pm.

RESULT of Scottish Seniors League at Dewars: Stirling 53, Perth 81. Stirling skips first – B Morrison 16, D Copland 22; H Petrie 10, T Clark 23; I Carnachan 15, D Oversby 20; D McDonald 12, D Chalmers 16.