Bon Accord travelled to Inverurie to face their neighbours Aberdeen & Kincardine at Harlaw BC.

The rink draws produced the following line-up

Rink 1 - Martyn Orchard v Steven Fraser
Rink 2 - Eric Gallan v David Keith
Rink 3 - Jak Miller v Sandy McDonald
Rink 4 - Derek McNicol v Michael Presly
Rink 5 - Roy Henry v Mark McIntosh
Rink 6 - Callum Work v Andy Duncan

The match started in sunshine and it was Bon Accord who made the faster start as both Jak and Derek's rinks score 5s on the first end, as Bon Accord won the opening ends 11-2!

By the end of the first quarter (5 ends on each rink), Bon Accord led 28-18 and the rink scores were

Martyn Orchard 6, Steven Fraser 2
Eric Gallan 2, David Keith 4
Jak Miller 9, Sandy McDonald 1
Derek McNicol 7, Michael Presly 3
Roy Henry 1, Mark McIntosh 5
Callum Work 3, Andy Duncan 3

Into quarter 2, and this saw Bon Accord increase their lead to 14 shots (52-38). The rink scores now read

Martyn Orchard 11, Steven Fraser 5
Eric Gallan 4, David Keith 7
Jak Miller 15, Sandy McDonald 5
Derek McNicol 10, Michael Presly 7
Roy Henry 4, Mark McIntosh 9
Callum Work 8, Andy Duncan 5

The 3rd quarter saw rain arrive and suddenly a change in momentum as the home team outscored Bon Accord by 43-24 to lead 81-76! Rink scores after 15 ends read

Martyn Orchard 15, Steven Fraser 10
Eric Gallan 8, David Keith 23
Jak Miller 18, Sandy McDonald 11
Derek McNicol 17, Michael Presly 9
Roy Henry 8, Mark McIntosh 16
Callum Work 10, Andy Duncan 12

Could A&K keep the momentum going or would Bon Accord bounce back?

Over the next 18 ends, it was Bon Accord who responded winning this section of the match 21-11 to go back into the lead 97-92.

So it all came down to the last few ends.

First off was Martyn Orchard rink winning 20-17. Bon Accord led by 5 shots with 11 ends left in the match.

Next off was Callum Work who lost 15-16. Bon Accord led by 3 with 5 ends left. Jak's rink finished winning 22-13.

A&K then scored a count of 5 to lead by 2 with 4 ends left. A&K won the next end with a single to lead by 3 with 3 ends remaining as Eric's rink finished 15-26 down. Roy's rink scored a 2 on their penultimate end - 1 down with 2 ends left.

Nailbiting stuff as players who had finished gathered on the empty rinks 1 and 2 to watch the conclusion.

Ths left both Derek's and Roy's rinks with one end each left.

Derek's rink secured a great count of 4 as the match swayed again....Bon Accord led by 3!

On Roy's last end it was A&K who got in first and when skip Mark McIntosh drew his first bowl to lie a possible match winning 4, the pressure was on Roy's last bowl....which unfortunately missed and after double checking the position a count of 4 was confirmed and A&K celebrations started.

Final rink scores were

Martyn Orchard 20, Steven Fraser 17
Eric Gallan 15, David Keith 26
Jak Miller 22, Sandy McDonald 13
Derek McNicol 24, Michael Presly 17
Roy Henry 15, Mark McIntosh 23
Callum Work 15, Andy Duncan 16

Congratulations to A&K and all the best for the remainder of the competition.

Thanks to umpires Raymond Davidson and Steve McGillivary. Well done to the rink and big scoreboard markers. And also to those working in the kitchen for the post match meal and the bar throughout the day.

Well done to our Gary Forbes who received his 3 cap 'goody bag' of Bon Accord tie, blazer badge and label badge.

We will need to dust ourselves down after a second 1 shot defeat and regroup for the next match away to section leaders Perthshire in 2 weeks time. A win is a must to retain an interest in progressing to the quarter finals.

Cmon the Bon Accord! 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️