Bainfield survived a tough test to make progress into the first round proper of The Edinburgh Top Ten Championship at the expense of Currie having tipped the scales of a 4-4 share of the points with a superior shot margin count of seven.
Read MoreCurrie raised prospects of registering a surprise away triumph with exciting wins in the Singles and Triples but Bainfield managed to stage a thrilling escape to victory via their supremacy in the Pairs and Fours. First blood went to Currie thanks to a strong performance from their spearhead figure Dean Fleming who found himself against the collar at 15-11 down to ace opponent Alex Hurry but produced a grandstand style finish that swept him to victory. Fleming quickened his pace with a run of 3, 1, 1, 2, 2 that accelerated him into a 20-15 lead then answered a menacing 2, 1 fight back from Hurry with a single to clinch a 21-18 victory in 25-ends.
Bainfield knew they were under match pressure from losing out in the Singles and a wobble in the Pairs from 9-3 up to 9-8 brought sweat to the brows of John Milne Jnr and Brian Stoddart against Colin Anderson and Andrew McKendrick. The home support on the banking breathed sighs of relief when the Milne/Stoddart partnership arrested their slide with a count of 3 then in a pulsating climax sandwiched the loss of 2, and 1 with an magic three that helped them secure a 15-12 victory. It was an important two points for Bainfield as Currie were serving up lots of hot stuff in the Triples in the shape of Stuart Fisher, John Anderson, and Neil Fisher storming into an 11-2 lead over Graham Fergus, Paul Millar, and Stuart Clark. Clark burst onto the scene with a strong fight back that saw him card 4, (1), 3, 1, (1), 3 to bring the melting pot up to boiling point at 13-13 playing the last where Currie edged a single to win 14-13. The match deciding spotlight focused on the climax to the Fours where the odds were favouring a home rink of David McNair, Stewart Jenkins, Adam Brock and Steven Pilley that had carded 4 , (3), 7, 5, 4 to power into a 20-3 lead then they duly held on to deliver a 28-20 victory.
Maitland were well and truly fired up by their spearhead figure Graeme McIntosh whose 21-14 win over Graeme Hyslop sparked an 8-0 victory over Willowbrae.
Other prelim round results: Craigentinny n/r v Dudley; Wardie 8 Portobello 0; Braid 2 Colinton 6; Jessfield 3 Ardmillan 5; LRF 4+ Whitehouse & Grange 4; Beechwood 2 Slateford 6; Goldenacre 8 Postal 0; Pilrig 4+ Parkside 4; Juniper Green 4+ Fountain Brewery 4.