The 2026 AHT campaign for both Bon Accord and Angus started today at Polmuir BC, Aberdeen.

The hosts, Bon Accord were looking to win the North Section for the 7th consecutive competition.

The Bon Accord line-up included three debutants - Mark Smith (Northern BC), Stephen Tennant (Westhill BC) and Gary Forbes (Westhill BC). We also had a new squad captain Martyn Orchard and a mention to Kevin Harper who earned his 175th cap today.

The weather was dry with sunny intervals however the temperature was chilly when the sun wasn't shining.

The rink line-ups were:

Rink 1 - Jim Shea, Willie Stewart, Ross Stewart, Callum Work v Paul Martin
Rink 2 - Zander Main, Willie Lumsden, Scott Runcie, Jak Miller v Glen Milne
Rink 3 - Mark Smith, Keith Morrison, Kevin Harper, Martyn Orchard v Tommy Dickson
Rink 4 - Craig Burnett, Stephen Tennant, Gary Forbes, Eric Gallan v Stuart Farmer
Rink 5 - Ellis Adie, George Milne, David Cobban-Shaw, Derek McNicol v Ian Garioch
Rink 6 - Owen Jack, Billy Grant, Neil Anderson, Roy Henry v Scot Pirie

It was Bon Accord who shot out of the traps, quickly putting 20 shots on the board after only 14 ends, with Angus trailing on only 5 shots. However, Angus were in a determind mood and responded over the next 16 ends to reduce the deficit to only 2 shots (27-25 Bon Accord) after 5 ends played across all rinks.

C Work 1, P Martin 10
J Miller 5, G Milne 3
M Orchard 3, T Dickson 3
E Gallan 6, S Farmer 3
D McNicol 10, I Garioch 2
R Henry 4, S Pirie 4

Into the 2nd quarter and a trend in the match was starting to appear with Bon Accord getting themselves approximately 10 shots ahead and then Angus clawing back the deficit.

After 10 ends played on all rinks, the score was 53-47 in favour of Bon Accord with the rinks scores as follows:

C Work 5, P Martin 14
J Miller 8, G Milne 7
M Orchard 12, T Dickson 4
E Gallan 7, S Farmer 9
D McNicol 12, I Garioch 8
R Henry 9, S Pirie 5


Quarter 3 continued to follow the trend noted above as Bon Accord attempted to break away and Angus looking to keep it close in order to leave themselves with an opportunity to nick a win at the end!

After 15 ends played on all rinks, the score was 81-70 in favour of Bon Accord with the rinks scores as follows:

C Work 12, P Martin 15
J Miller 12, G Milne 9
M Orchard 15, T Dickson 9
E Gallan 13, S Farmer 13
D McNicol 18, I Garioch 11
R Henry 11, S Pirie 13

Over the next 18 ends Angus reduced the deficit to only 2 shots (93-95), to set-up an exciting finish.

It was Angus who reached the 100 shots first, with Bon Accord only two behind on 98. Four ends later, Angus were now 7 shots ahead with only 7 ends left (98-105). With 4 ends remaining, Bon Accord trailed by 4 shots, when Eric Gallan's rink scored 5 shots on end 20, to out the home team ahead 108-107 with 3 ends left. A few minutes later Callum Work's rink scored a 1 on their last end to move Bon Accord 2 up with 2 ends left. However Glen Milne's rink scored 2 shots on their last end to draw the scores level 109-109 with only the last end on the Eric Gallan v Stuart Farmer match remaining.

With the front ends having played, Bon Accord held 2 shots, however the Angus 3rd then trailed the jack to lie 1 shot however Eric regained the shot with his first bowl by the Angus skip then trailed the jack to lie the shot, near the ditch, with only 2 bowls remaining. Eric's last bowl edged the jack but unfortunately just fell into the ditch when it needed to stay on .... meaning Angus got the shot and a one shot match win after 126 ends of bowls!

The final rink scores were:

C Work 13, P Martin 23
J Miller 15, G Milne 16
M Orchard 22, T Dickson 16
E Gallan 25, S Farmer 15
D McNicol 21, I Garioch 22
R Henry 13, S Pirie 18

Congratulations to Angus for a determined, gritty win and commiserations to the Bon Accord lads.

Thanks to our umpires Gordon Brown and Raymond Davidson.

Thanks to Polmuir BC and all your members for another successful hosting. To those on the big and rink scoreboards, bar staff, green warden, members helping with the post match meal, a huge thanks again to all.

We go again in 2 weeks at Kittybrewster & Woodside BC v Highland BA.

C'mon the Bon Accord!!