Kirkliston’s victory over Uphall Station in the final of the WLBA Rosebery Cup played at Whitburn was a commanding one with the 108-66 scoreline reflecting a superb team performance across the four rinks.
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Etching their name on the coveted spiritual 1882 birth silverware of The Linlithgowshire Bowling Association is a major part of KBC history with this latest triumph sparking celebrations for a 24th time. Whitburn are the all time record holders with 27 Rosebery Cup titles to their credit but their last success came as far back as 1984 in which time Kirkliston have closed the gap by increasing their wins tally from 14 to 24. Uphall Station followed Whitburn in 1985 with the last of their eight wins and having done well to reach the 2016 final did enter it as the underdogs – but hopeful of causing an upset against a club that has failed to deliver a few times in their long Rosebery history.
The Logan clan had a strong presence in the final with icon figure Raymond joined by his sons Scott and Calum, his brother Gordon and his son Grant while Gordon’s other son Greg featured in the Uphall Station line up. Raymond, Calum, and Grant all featured as skips in a strong KBC Sixteen that was further glamorised by the presence of Commonwealth Games gold medal hero Neil Speirs as skip number four.
“We new that history and strength in depth factors were against us so we put a lot of science and thought into our rink formations but we were unable to curb the winning appetite of an opposition hungry to give their younger players a taste of Rosebery celebrations. The words of 1981 national singles champion Frazer Muirhead who along with Greg Logan, David Lamb, and Kenny Black did represent proven quality in the Uphall Station ranks. KBC – better known as ‘The Cheesetown Boys’ raised the first cheer with an 8-0 cleans sweep on the opening end and that inspired them to a 36-25 supremacy on the first seven-end phase.
The second phase saw Kirkliston increase their match lead from 11 to 33 with a 41-19 domination that hugely benefited from the 13-3 and 11-2 highlight contributions from Calum and Raymond Logan respectively. It is to their credit that Uphall Station managed to put the brakes on three of the KBC rinks on the third phase but they were still outscored, 31-22, as a consequence of Neil Speirs producing a grandstand finish of 14-1. Speirs basked in the limelight of a powerful late run of 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, (1) to skip Scott Logan, Kyle Brodley, and Mark Allison to a 30-9 win over Greg Logan. Logan (Raymond) accelerated from 4-6 to 18-6 then skipped Nathan McKendrick, Darren Pearce, and Robbie Cuthill to a 26- 12 win over Kenny Black. Logan (Calum) was on fire to skip Colin Smith, Andi Gray, and John Aitken into a 26-10 lead but seven blanks on the run in saw him settle for a 26-19 win over David Lamb. Logan (Grant) and his front-three of Steven Forrest, Gordon Logan, and Jordan Pearce dictated the early pace to lead Frazer Muirhead 15-7; but finished up hard pressed to rescue a 26-26 peel.
Rosebery Cup finalists Kirkliston and Uphall Station are set to renew rivalry in tonights (thur) quarterfinals action of The White Knights sponsored WLBA Top Ten Championship. The Station will be well fired up to avenge their defeat in The Rosebery and have home environment advantage to spur them on against the record 11 times County champions. Tonights other ties feature, Buchan Park v Broxburn; Bathgate v Linlithgow; Glenmavis v Deans.
The results of Tuesday nights Second round ties were; Oakbank 4 Uphall Station 4 (+5); Mid Calder 0 Kirkliston 8; Buchan Park 6 Queensferry 2; Winchburgh 3 Broxburn 5; Bathgate 8 Bellsburn 0; Linlithgow 6 East Calder 2; Glenmavis 7 Harrysmuir 1; Deans 4 (+7) Polbeth 4.