Scotland v Wales - Day One Report
Scotland’s two-day test match against Wales got underway at Llandrindod Wells Bowling Club today. Following three sessions of play and 36 individual matches being completed, Scotland hold a narrow 40-38 advantage over Wales going into tomorrow morning’s final session.
Session One
Scotland had a difficult start to the event, recording three wins and one draw from the 12 encounters in the first session.
In the men’s pairs, Robert Lenza and Gary Prunty lost out to the strong pairing of Owain Dando and Danny Davies Jnr 10-19. Bonnyrigg Bowling Club’s Paul Innes and Colin Bonner were also defeated by nine shots against John Roberts and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Daniel Salmon.
The spoils were shared across the two women’s pairs contests. Carla Banks and Rebecca Houston came up short 8-19 against the experienced duo of Amy Williams and Caroline Taylor. Lorna Cameron and Gail Notman clinched Scotland’s first victory of the session, delivering a strong performance to get the better of Sara Nicholls and Ysie White 18-13.
Both Scottish para pairings suffered narrow defeats to kick off their campaigns. Gary Hinks and Lee Mitchell went down 9-14 to Robert Sawyers and Chris Spriggs in the physically disabled pairs. In the visually impaired pairs, Mary Stevenson and Gareth Marshall also finished five shots adrift of Julie Thomas and Steffan James.
Our two men’s triples teams also lost out by slim margins. Allan Ramsay, Andrew Thomson and Andrew Dunnett were beaten 11-16 by Martin Clarke-Squires, Andrew Fleming and Carl Wood. Meanwhile, Calum Williamson, Craig Adrain and Greg Logan fell short against Steve Allen, Sam Roff and Mark Harding 19-22.
A second win of the session came for the Scots in the women’s triples when Dawn Anderson, Lawra Cox and Alison Lamont produced a stunning late comeback to overcome Jasmine Staton, Jodie McCarthy and Laura Daniels 15-14. Unfortunately, Jaclyn Neil, Sarah Jane Ewing and Wendy Grant lost out 16-20 in their women’s triples match at the hands of Emma Gittins, Lauren Gowen and Alis Butten.
Scotland’s two physically disabled and visually impaired triples remained undefeated in the first session. Melanie Inness, Steve Key and Glen Livingston notched up a third victory for Scotland as they saw off the challenge of Sue Jones, Gareth Rowe and Paul Brown 16-12. Mary Wilson, Andrew Shea and Robert Barr had to settle for an 11-11 draw with Matthew Thorne, Pheobe Hallett and Robbie Byrne.
Session One Scores:
- Men’s Pairs – Robert Lenza & Gary Prunty lost to Owain Dando & Danny Davies Jnr 10-19
- Men’s Pairs – Paul Innes & Colin Bonner lost to John Roberts & Daniel Salmon 11-20
- Women’s Pairs – Carla Banks & Rebecca Houston lost to Amy Williams & Caroline Taylor 8-19
- Women’s Pairs – Lorna Cameron & Gail Notman beat Sara Nicholls & Ysie White 18-13
- Para PD Pairs – Gary Hinks & Lee Mitchell lost to Robert Sawyers & Chris Spriggs 9-14
- Para VI Pairs – Mary Stevenson & Gareth Marshall lost to Julie Thomas & Steffan James 14-19
- Men’s Triples – Allan Ramsay, Andrew Thomson & Andrew Dunnett lost to Martin Clarke-Squires, Andrew Fleming & Carl Wood 11-16
- Men’s Triples – Calum Williamson, Craig Adrain & Greg Logan lost to Steve Allen, Sam Roff & Mark Harding 19-22
- Women’s Triples – Dawn Anderson, Lawra Cox & Alison Lamont beat Jasmine Staton, Jodie McCarthy & Laura Daniels 15-14
- Women’s Triples – Jaclyn Neil, Sarah Jane Ewing & Wendy Grant lost to Emma Gittins, Lauren Gowen & Alis Butten 16-20
- Para PD/VI Triples – Melanie Inness, Steve Key & Glen Livingston beat Sue Jones, Gareth Rowe & Paul Brown 16-12
- Para PD/VI Triples – Mary Wilson, Andrew Shea & Robert Barr drew with Matthew Thorne, Pheobe Hallett & Robbie Byrne 11-11
SESSION ONE SCORE: SCOTLAND 7 – WALES 19
Session Two
Scotland bounced back strongly in the second session of the day, winning eight of the 12 matches being contested to secure an 18-8 victory.
Our men’s singles players both produced excellent displays to record maximum points for the Scots. Robert Lenza fended off Daniel Salmon 21-15 and Andrew Dunnett overcame Carl Wood 21-14.
It was honours even in the women’s singles as the points were shared between both nations. Lorna Cameron held her nerve to fend off a late fight back from Wales’ Lauren Gowen and get over the winning line 21-19. In the other women’s singles contest, Carla Banks sadly lost out 9-21 to the talented Amy Williams.
There was also nothing to separate Scotland and Wales in the para pairs disciplines. Mary Wilson and Steve Key won a nail-biting encounter against Robert Sawyers and Chris Spriggs 13-12 in the physically disabled pairs. Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallists Melanie Inness and Robert Barr suffered an 8-15 defeat to Julie Thomas and Steffan James in the visually impaired pairs.
Yet again the spoils were shared by both countries in the para physically disabled and visually impaired triples. Mary Stevenson, Lee Mitchell and Andrew Shea dominated from the off to get the better of Sue Jones, Gareth Rowe & Paul Brown 16-5. Gary Hinks, Gareth Marshall and Glen Livingston were beaten 4-14 by Matthew Thorne, Pheobe Hallett and Robbie Byrne.
The men’s fours teams also cancelled each other out with one win apiece. Allan Ramsay, Paul Innes, Colin Bonner and Gary Prunty impressively dispatched of John Roberts, Steve Allen, Sam Roff and Mark Harding 24-9. Scotland’s other quartet of Calum Williamson, Craig Adrain, Andrew Thomson and Greg Logan were narrowly defeated 18-22 by Owain Dando, Martin Clarke-Squires, Andrew Fleming and Danny Davies Jnr.
In the women’s fours, Scotland finished the session off strongly by claiming victories in both games. Dawn Anderson, Lawra Cox, Rebecca Houston and Gail Notman ousted Emma Gittins, Jodie McCarthy, Laura Daniels and Caroline Taylor 13-9. Jaclyn Neil, Wendy Grant, Sarah Jane Ewing and Alison Lamont also played well to beat Sara Nicholls, Jasmine Staton, Alis Butten and Ysie White 17-10.
Session Two Scores:
- Men’s Singles – Robert Lenza beat Daniel Salmon 21-15
- Men’s Singles – Andrew Dunnett beat Carl Wood 21-14
- Women’s Singles – Lorna Cameron beat Lauren Gowen 21-19
- Women’s Singles – Carla Banks lost to Amy Williams 9-21
- Para PD Pairs – Mary Wilson & Steve Key beat Robert Sawyers & Chris Spriggs 13-12
- Para VI Pairs – Melanie Inness & Robert Barr lost to Julie Thomas & Steffan James 8-15
- Para PD/VI Triples – Mary Stevenson, Lee Mitchell & Andrew Shea beat Sue Jones, Gareth Rowe & Paul Brown 16-5
- Para PD/VI Triples – Gary Hinks, Gareth Marshall & Glen Livingston lost to Matthew Thorne, Pheobe Hallett & Robbie Byrne 4-14
- Men’s Fours – Allan Ramsay, Paul Innes, Colin Bonner & Gary Prunty beat John Roberts, Steve Allen, Sam Roff & Mark Harding 24-9
- Men’s Fours – Calum Williamson, Craig Adrain, Andrew Thomson & Greg Logan lost to Owain Dando, Martin Clarke-Squires, Andrew Fleming & Danny Davies Jnr 18-22
- Women’s Fours – Dawn Anderson, Lawra Cox, Rebecca Houston & Gail Notman beat Emma Gittins, Jodie McCarthy, Laura Daniels & Caroline Taylor 13-9
- Women’s Fours – Jaclyn Neil, Wendy Grant, Sarah Jane Ewing & Alison Lamont beat Sara Nicholls, Jasmine Staton, Alis Butten & Ysie White 17-10
SESSION TWO SCORE: SCOTLAND 18 – WALES 8
Session Three
In the final session of the day, Scotland clinched a vital 15-11 victory by winning six and drawing one of the 12 games taking place.
There was nothing to separate the two nations across both men’s pairs encounters. Robert Lenza and Gary Prunty led from the early stages and never looked back, eventually winning 19-12 over Steve Allen and Mark Harding. Paul Innes and Colin Bonner fought hard but suffered a 13-16 defeat against Martin Clarke-Squires and Carl Wood.
Scotland were unbeaten across the two women’s pairs matches. Carla Banks and Rebecca Houston proved victorious against Sara Nicholls and Laura Daniels 21-19 in a game where the momentum swung back and forth on several occasions. After a brilliant 18 end contest, Lorna Cameron and Gail Notman drew with Emma Gittins and Amy Williams 16-16.
It was one win apiece for Scotland and Wales in the para pairs. Melanie Inness and Gareth Marshall combined well together to get the better of Julie Thomas and Steffan James 14-9 in the visually impaired pairs. Glen Livingston and Steve Key did not have the same fortunes in the physically disabled pairs, losing out to Robbie Byrne and Chris Spriggs 7-10.
Calum Williamson, Craig Adrain and Greg Logan notched up their first win of the test series in the men’s triples with a 20-13 scoreline against John Roberts, Sam Roff and Daniel Salmon. Our other men’s triples team of Allan Ramsay, Andrew Thomson and Andrew Dunnett came up short to Owain Dando, Andrew Fleming and Danny Davies Jnr 14-21.
Dawn Anderson, Lawra Cox and Alison Lamont maintained their 100% record on day one with a convincing 26-7 triumph over Jasmine Staton, Alis Butten and Caroline Taylor in the women’s triples. The trio of Jaclyn Neil, Sarah Jane Ewing and Wendy Grant suffered a 12-22 loss to Jodie McCarthy, Lauren Gowen and Ysie White.
The points were shared across the para physically disabled and visually impaired triples to round off day one. Mary Stevenson, Gary Hinks and Andrew Shea got over the winning line 12-11 at the last end against Sue Jones, Matthew Thorne and Paul Brown. Unfortunately, Mary Wilson, Lee Mitchell and Robert Barr were beaten by Gareth Rowe, Robert Sawyers and Pheobe Hallett 10-18
Session Three Scores:
- Men’s Pairs – Paul Innes & Colin Bonner lost to Martin Clarke-Squires & Carl Wood 13-16
- Men’s Pairs – Robert Lenza & Gary Prunty beat Steve Allen & Mark Harding 19-12
- Women’s Pairs – Carla Banks & Rebecca Houston beat Sara Nicholls & Laura Daniels 21-19
- Women’s Pairs – Lorna Cameron & Gail Notman drew with Emma Gittins & Amy Williams 16-16
- Para PD Pairs – Glen Livingston & Steve Key lost to Robbie Byrne & Chris Spriggs 7-10
- Para VI Pairs – Melanie Inness & Gareth Marshall beat Julie Thomas & Steffan James 14-9
- Men’s Triples – Calum Williamson, Craig Adrain & Greg Logan beat John Roberts, Sam Roff & Daniel Salmon 20-13
- Men’s Triples – Allan Ramsay, Andrew Thomson & Andrew Dunnett lost to Owain Dando, Andrew Fleming & Danny Davies Jnr 14-21
- Women’s Triples – Dawn Anderson, Lawra Cox & Alison Lamont beat Jasmine Staton, Alis Butten & Caroline Taylor 26-7
- Women’s Triples – Jaclyn Neil, Sarah Jane Ewing & Wendy Grant lost to Jodie McCarthy, Lauren Gowen & Ysie White 12-22
- Para PD/VI Triples – Mary Wilson, Lee Mitchell & Robert Barr lost to Gareth Rowe, Robert Sawyers & Pheobe Hallett 10-18
- Para PD/VI Triples – Mary Stevenson, Gary Hinks & Andrew Shea beat Sue Jones, Matthew Thorne & Paul Brown 12-11
SESSION THREE SCORE: SCOTLAND 15 – WALES 11
OVERALL TEST MATCH SCORE AFTER SESSION THREE: SCOTLAND 40 – WALES 38
Day two see’s one session of play being contested across singles, pairs, triples and fours disciplines. If Scotland are victorious in this session they will be crowned test series winners. A report and scores from these games will be provided on our website and social media pages tomorrow.