Hugh Gibson successfully defended the Seniors title at Balerno Bowling Club after coming from nine shots down to secure a 21-14 result over George McLaughlin.
Interestingly, the 71-year-old was also nine shots down at 14-5 to Tom Murray in last year’s final, but won 21-20.
On this occasion, McLaughlin dominated the early ends with a short mat, but Gibson turned the game on its head when he gained control of the jack and went long.
The Balerno resident lost a three at the first, a single at the next, four at the third and another single at the fourth, but stopped the rot with a single at the fifth.
The comeback continued with a four at the sixth but McLaughlin steadied the ship with a two at the seventh, still holding an 11-5 lead.
Gibson, however, went on a run, winning the next five ends with scores of 2, 1, 2, 3, 2 to ease to a 15-11 scoreline.
McLaughlin earned a single at the 13th end for 15-12, but a single at end 14 and a three at the 16th end took the scoreline to 19-13 and singles at the 17th and 19th ends secured the win in the two-hour tussle played mostly in bright sunshine with the thermometer hovering around 25C.
He said: “The key to winning this year was getting control off the mat and playing long jacks.”
Gibson took the championship for the first time in 2024, edging Tom Murray in a three-hour match, a game dominated by a short mat and he said: “I joined the seniors when I turned 60 and never thought I would reach the dizzy heights on winning a title, but here we are.”
SUCCESS: Hugh Gibson at the scoreboard after the final. Picture Nigel Duncan
