The Ayrshire Youths side came agonisingly close to claiming the draw against Lanarkshire at Drumpellier on Saturday (6th November) which would have given them the 2004 championship, but instead suffered their first defeat of the season with a 5.5 - 4.5 result in favour of the hosts.
In the early stages of the match, Ayrshire were in front, wins by John Sloan (Doon Valley), Ian Guthrie (Ballochmyle) and Garry Neil (Caprington) more than ofsetting the heavy defeats suffered by Jamie Wilson (Ballochmyle) and Graeme Gebbie (Loudoun). Defeat for Lee Hughes (Belleisle) was again offset by another fine win by Craig Hamilton (Ballochmyle), giving Ayrshire a 4-3 lead in the match.
In the eighth tie, Alastair Leggate (Barassie) was 2 ahead with three remaining, but his opponent pegged him back over the closing holes to earn a crucial half match.
Ayrshire's agony was compounded when both Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) and Jamie MacKay (St. Meddans) suffered single hole defeats in the remaining ties, to give Lanarkshire the narrowest of wins.
MATCH RESULTS (Ayrshire names first)
JOHN SLOAN (Doon Valley) beat D. Henderson (Hamilton) 2 & 1
IAN GUTHRIE (Ballochmyle) beat C. McLean (Hamilton) 1 hole
GARRY NEIL (Caprington) beat C. Kelly (Kirkhill) 1 hole
JAMIE WILSON (Ballochmyle) lost to M. Sweeney (East Kilbride) 6 & 4
GRAEME GEBBIE (Loudoun) lost to R. Main (Airdrie) 4 & 3
CRAIG HAMILTON (Ballochmyle) beat M. Russo (Drumpellier) 2 & 1
LEE HUGHES (Belleisle) lost to G. Malloy (Wishaw) 3 & 2
ALASTAIR LEGGATE (Barassie) halved with G. Robertson (Airdrie)
CAMERON GRAY (West Kilbride) lost to C. Bell (Colville Park) 1 hole
JAMIE MACKAY (St. Meddans) lost to R. Kelly (Colville Park) 1 hole
LANARKSHIRE 5.5 AYRSHIRE 4.5
Lanarkshire can now take the title by defeating Dumbartonshire in their rearranged home match next week.
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