Talented brothers Richard (34) and Kyle Newall (30) have returned to their natural habitat at Hillside having flown the nest for a couple of seasons; but the downside of them being pitched straight into the First Sixteens is that father John is downgraded to the Second’s in tonight’s opening play of the Alpha Trophies sponsored Edinburgh Bowling League.
Read More“It’s the price you pay I guess for encouraging your family to return to their roots and I must say I am chuffed that the household is once again united in representing the Hillside banner and the proud heritage built up since the clubs inception in 1870”. The thoughts of father John who will be nursing sore feet tonight as he has just returned from five days exertion fulfilling an ambition to walk the 96 miles of The West Highland Way. Hillside regularly flirt between Division 1 and Division 2 and their ambition this summer is to retain their top echelon status but hopes of making a winning start are seriously challenged by a visit to record seven times champions Craigentinny. The opening line up heralds the introduction of close season transfers Phil Harper and Darren Bald from Portobello and Bilston respectively plus the promotion of Dougie Robinson from the Second’s; but it is a major blow that iconic figure Gary Muir has sidelined himself. Rink 1. Phil Harper, Kyle Newall, John Simpson, and Colin Bell. Rink 2. Richard Newall, Darren Bald, Kevin Moncur, and Colin Hairs. Rink 3. Malky Thom, Graeme Laidlaw, Dougie Robinson, and Brian Irving. Rink 4. Kenny Logan, Peter Brown, Alan Tough, and BJ Smith.
Craigentinny failed to land the odds last season an outcome that suggests the giants of the EBL will be fired up to redeem themselves and the return from working in Russia of former Tait Trophy champion Ian Paterson is an inspirational strengthener. The star-studded line up of the home side makes for awesome reading in the shape of, Rink 1. Darren Smith, David brown, Ian Paterson, and Andrew Caldwell. Rink 2. Craig McCall, Stuart betts, Gordon bold, and Andy Jeffrey. Rink 3. Kevin Hunter, Scott Duncan, Kevin McFarlane, and Willie McDonald. Rink 4. Josh Spalding, Gary Nisbet, Scott Rogers, and Daniel Gormley.
Parkside enter the fray as defending champions and launch their bid for a fourth title celebration with valuable home green advantage over a newly promoted Pilrig bolstered in moral by their history of being the inaugural champions in 1998. The defending champions are much changed this season with stalwart figures Derek Smith and Danny Jackson out for the whole season, Ian Fleming and Bob Ramsay both unavailable for tonight, and ace skip Alex Hurry Jnr having transferred his skills to Bainfield. Junior England star John Bell has returned to Edinburgh having found employment in the city while Davie Anderson, a signing from West Lothian, makes his debut in a team that reads, Rink 1. Craig Bryce, Gareth Edwards, Willie Watson, and Paul Veitch. Rink 2. Steven Rennie, David Moran, Andy Hargan, and Neil Watson. Rink 3. Danny McCourt, David Sherriffs, Davie Anderson, and Robert Donaldson. Rink 4. John Bell, Ewan Diven, Brian Salvona, and Kevin Boyd.
The Pilrig skips are, Euan Craig, Darren Mckenny, Graeme Gow, and Alan Tregoning while Maitland entertain Northern, and Queensberry face promoted Division 2 champions, Tanfield.