Edinburgh & Leith have a strong chance to raise the expectations of keeping the coveted Hamilton Trophy in sharp focus as they enter todays Cities and Counties Championship quarterfinal against Glasgow West at Duffus Park in Fife as favourites to reach the semis.
Read MoreThe management team of Duncan McLaren and Ricky Rutherford make one change across the six rinks with former winning Hamilton Trophy hero Alan Brown returning to replace Richard Tough at third to team captain Paul Veitch. The other quarterfinal in the E&L half of the draw features Bon Accord versus Glasgow South while in the much tougher half its holders Lanarkshire South v Highland and West Lothian v Lanarkshire West at Doune Castle.
WL team manager Gordon Logan brings in Drew Paterson, Scott Mushett and the returning Gary Orr at the expense of Jordan Pearce, Steven Forrest, and Gary Grant while in the process of searching for a winning blend he reshuffles the line up. Rink 1. Jamie Edwards, Blair Mackie, James Speirs, and Grant Logan. Rink 2. Scott Logan, Bryan Cooper, Gary Orr, and Neil Speirs. Rink 3. Drew Paterson, Paul Sweeney, Sandy McDougall, and Steven Fleming. Rink 4. Ewan Shearer, Scott Mushett, Calum Logan, and Andrew Dunnett. Rink 5. Darren Pearce, Barry Sword, Mark Allison, and Raymond Logan. Rink 6. Calum Black, Andy Walker Jnr, Gary Smith, and Thomas Mann.
Whitburn is the magic name in history associated with having their name etched on the Holy Grail club trophy of the WLBA having won The Rosebery Cup (1882) a record 27 times however the last of these reaches back to 1984. Opportunity knocks for them bridge that overlong gap when they contest the 2018 final against Newbridge at East Calder tomorrow Sunday (2pm) however they will line up as the underdogs.
Newbridge followed their quarterfinal win over strongly fancied Linlithgow with a narrow 66-62 win over Buchan Park while Whitburn followed up their good win over Uphall Station with the 66-63 defeat of West Calder. The skips draw for the final has been made and reads; N/B first; Jamie Aitken v Cameron Mighton; Thomas Mann v James Halliday; Blair Mackie v Colin Fraser; James Speirs Jnr v Peter Lynch.
Postal continue to make a strong bid to make an immediate return to the highest echelon of the Alpha Trophies sponsored Edinburgh Bowling League having consolidated their position as leaders of Division 2 with an impressive 7-2 away win over West End. The final straight is a demanding four matches long and Postal enter it with a 3 point lead however they are not home and hosed as its Carrick Knowe that are on their tail and the hot favourites are expected to press all the way to the winning line.
Carrick Knowe do have falters in their stride though as demonstrated by their latest unimpressive 5-4 win at home to Wardie however its the top two that win promotion and there is a further 5point gap to third placed Hillside. Hillside beat foot of the table Pilrig 5-4 while third from bottom Colinton stormed to a 9-0 win at home to their relegation zoned rivals Willowbrae.
Corstorphine have winged their way into the promotion race in Division 3 having moved up to second place with 9-0 win at home to foot of the table Whitehouse & Grange. Sighthill continued to set the pace at the head of affairs with a gilt edged 7-2 away win over Bainfield that pushed their victims down to third place albeit in close touch with Corstorphine. Leith won 7-2 away to relegation zoned Dudley while Mayfield helped their survival cause with a 7-2 win at home to Goldenacre.
Queensberry caught the eye in Division 1 with sparkling 9-0 triumph away to Tanfield that kept them firmly in second placed but still well adrift of runaway leaders Craigentinny. Summerside 2 Craigentinny 7; Maitland 9 Northern 0; Brunstane 7 Parkside 2.
The Under 25 brigade of East Lothian progressed to the semi final stage of The Scottish Cup for The Jim Bell Trophy with wins over Dumbartonshire (72-53), and West Fife (63-61).
The Seniors team of E&L face West Lothian in The Matt Purdie Trophy at East Calder on Monday (12noon). The five skips are, BJ Smith, Adam Brock, Frank Welsh, Frank OReilly, and Adam Melrose.