Midlothian gents have ended their indoor bowls season on a magnificent high with the 2018 Henselite Scottish Cup gleaming radiantly and proudly in the trophy cabinet at The Dalkeith Stadium.
Read MoreTriumph over neighbour club East Lothian was hard earned and well deserved with the battle for supremacy in the final played at Abbeyview (Dunfermline) going right down to the wire before Midlothian clinched a 6-4 victory on points. East Lothian were the form horse on seasonal judgements having finished runners up in the premier league then turning the tables on their conquerors (Blantyre) in the semi final of The Cup.
Midlothian though looked strong and solid on paper so were never going to be a pushover especially with the challenging extra dynamic of being a local derby stirring the fires of the underdogs. Wins on the rinks skipped by Billy Peacock and Colin Walker set up a 4-4 share of the rink points leaving the scales of victory to be tipped by 71-66 shot aggregate in favour of Midlothian.The outcome of the aggregate was in the melting pot entering the penultimate end with it sitting 62-61 in favour of ‘the garden county’ however a sizzling 7-0 attack by fired up opposition hiked the temperature beyond boiling point.
Midlothian’s defence of their six shot lead (68-62) entering the last end was put under menacing pressure by losses of 2, 1, 1 across three of their rinks however nerves of steel and a heroic count of 3 for Billy Peacock triggered the wild Cup winning celebrations. Peacock (Billy) had a major influence on keeping East Lothian at bay having set a strong pace to skip Jack Macnab, Liam Mckay, and Kevin McDougall into leads of 10-3 and 14-7 over Mark Yuill, Dougie Berwick, Mark Johnston, and Graham Robertson.
However it was an adrenalin rush, in response to danger at 16-13, and its outcome of a 4 at the 19th and a 3 at the 20th ends that elevated the older of the two high profile Peaocock brothers to hero status – winning 23-14. Back up support was needed and it came from Colin Walker who had it all to do at 13-12 down but did it in the shape of delivering a 2, 1, 2, (2) finish to skip Neil Melrose, Lindsay Plenderleith, and Dougie Russell to a gilt edged 17-15 win over Lewis Betts, Andrew Jeffrey, Dean Riva, and Billy Mellors. EL were kept well in the picture by Joe Mower skipping Lessel Middler, Kevin Cunningham, and Jamie Higgins to a 21-16 win over Jamie Macnab, Sandy (AJ) Knight, Jim Cullen, and David Peacock. Also Scott Kennedy skipping Aaron Betts, David Sked, and Stet Thomson to a 16-15 win, having carded a 6 on the third last end (19th) against Ian Forbes, Craig Hodge, Andy Caldwell, and Graeme Archer.
Midlothian’s fifth triumph in the Cup denied East Lothian a record extending eighth success.
Edinburgh & Leith have received 55 nominations for Hamilton Trophy (Scottish Counties) consideration including iconic figure Robert Marshall who is one of four from Slateford while Carrick Knowe dominate the list with 8. Namely Stephen Pringle, Colin Touch, Stuart Campbell, Darren Hush, James Hogg, John Ramsay, Richard Tough, and Kevin Tennant.
East Lothian Ladies put up a bold show in a 6-4 defeat from Ayrshire giants Auchinleck that ended their dreams of marching towards first time glory in the Scottish Cup. The semi final played at West of Scotland saw wins for the rinks skipped by Lauren Baillie (+25) and Janet Fairnie (+2); but setbacks for Yvonne Veitch (-6) and Emma Logan (-22).
Friday nights Finals at The Alex Marshall Arena include Willie Wood MBE and Brian (BJ) Smith parading their skills in the Seniors Singles while its Stuart Johnston and Calum Darling in the Under 21 singles. Janet Fairnie bids for a record equalling sixth triumph in the Ladies Singles when lining up against an in form first time seeker Pat Turner while Monday night sees Billy Mellors and Chris Fallen contest the Gents Singles.
Aaron Betts has captured the Under 17 Singles title At East Lothian IBC defeating his big brother Lewis, 21-18, in a thrilling final. Emma Logan won the Ladies 2 Bowl Singles title with a 21-16 win over Melissa Penman.