Edinburgh Morning News 4/12

Bainfield’s away form isn’t inspiring having lost at Aberdeen and Falkirk yet the team shape looks solid and its backbone strong in the shape of international arena experienced Robert Marshall, Gavin Smith, James Hogg, Jamie Reid, Josh Spalding, Daniel Gormley, John McDermott, and Colin Hutchison. Ayr are new faces in the premier league but have proved to be no pushovers and with three wins out of six sit equal on points with Bainfield making the outcome of their clash tomorrow of vital importance. The view expressed by Bainfield player manager Gavin Smith is “ A win at Ayr keeps us in touch with top to of the table clubs Falkirk and East Lothian but a defeat plunges us into the relegation zone for real and with Ayr in the same boat it’s a crucial match for both of us”. Smith would liked to have been at full strength but stalwart figures Alan Brown and Steven Pilley are unavailable leading to the continuation of Steven Rennie and a debut handed to Queensberry outdoor star Tam Ebbs.Rink 1.Jamie Reid, Danny McCourt, Daniel Gormley, and Craig Paterson. Rink 2. Mark McIntosh, Brian Stoddart, John McDermott, and James Hogg.Rink 3. Graeme McIntosh, Tam Ebbs, Kevin Tennant, and Robert Marshall. Rink 4. Josh Spalding, Steven Rennie, Colin Hutchison (cpt), and Gavin Smith.

East Lothian are pressing leaders Falkirk for top spot and the chance to leapfrog them on shot margin presents itself tomorrow with the two teams clashing in what is a testing way fixture for ‘the garden county’. “We lost our home fixture to Falkirk by an agonising three shots early in the campaign so respect the form of the leaders however winning our last three games has generated a spirit and momentum that makes us optimistic of delivering a good result”, said team captain Scott Kennedy. Icon figure Alex Marshall MBE remains an absentee while a slightly tweaked line up reads, Rink 1. Joe Mower, Andy Jeffrey, Willie Wood MBE, and Billy Mellors. Rink 2. Ewan Fallen, Andy Burt, Graham Robertson, and Derek Oliver. Rink 3. Mark Johnston, Glenn Blair, Gary Darling, and Scott Kennedy. Rink 4. Mal Higgenbotham, Jamie Gordon, Stuart Thomson, and Jamie Higgins.

Midlothian’s first defeat in six, away to Blantyre, is followed by what looks like another tough away mission for the now joint leaders of the A Division of the premier league who lock horns with West Lothian at Livingston. Team manger Frank Gray is never without his problems over recent seasons and tomorrows welcome return of international star Ronnie Duncan is dampened by the enforced absence of another top Scotland player in the shape of Colin Walker. Ian Fleming returns to the fold at the expense of stalwart figure Drew Pearson while a tweaked line up reads, Rink 1. Colin Cook, Andy Caldwell, Danny McDougall, and Billy Peacock. Rink 2. Jamie Macnab, Ryan Yuill, Craig Hodge, and David Peacock. Rink 3. Jack Macnab, Kevin McDougall, Colin Macfarlane, and Ronnie Duncan. Rink 4. Ian Forbes (Cpt), Ian Fleming, Lindsay Plenderleith, and AJ Knight.

West Lothian team currently in the doldrums with only two wins out of six. Neil Speirs continues as an absentee while Paul O’Donnell and Stuart Johnston return at the expense of Connor McKendrick and James Greenock. Rink 1. Cameron Greer, Blair Mackie, Craig Moss, and Calum Logan. Rink 2. Dougie Mitchell, Raymond Logan, Bryan Cooper, and James Speirs. Rink 3. Richard Mark, Paul O’Donnell, Stuart Johnston, and Mark Allison. Rink 4. Nathan McKendrick, Ian Drysdale, Jamie Gracie, and Thomas Mann. (cpt).