Bainfield resume their indoor bowls premier league campaign tomorrow and entertain high hopes of generating some much needed New Year Cheer in a battle for survival match against Coatbridge at the Hutchison Crossway Stadium.
Read moreWith both teams sharing the bottom rung of the Section A league table it is a must win game for both in their bid to escape the relegation zone and although Coatbridge are no pushover it is vital that Bainfield capture full points.“We are the team with home advantage and it is absolutely vital that we deliver a winning result to move us clear of the automatic relegation position; I believe we have the calibre of players that can cope with these pressures”, said manager Alan Brown. Brown has lost the services of stalwart figure Brian Stoddart but is in the happy position of introducing former Portobello player Jamie Reid into the picture and gives the Northern BC outdoor star his debut.“I am pitching Jamie in at the deep end by selecting him at third but he has the skill, nerve and experience to produce a strong performance”.Craig Paterson captains a strong looking line up that reads as follows,Rink 1. Kevin Tennant, Alan Brown, Colin Hutchison, and James Hogg. Rink 2. Chris Downie, Mark McIntosh, John McDermott, and Gavin Smith.Rink 3. Graeme McIntosh, Craig Aitken, Jamie Reid, and Barry Hill.Rink 4. Josh Spalding, Stephen Pringle, Daniel Gormley, and Craig Paterson.
Midlothian feature in the ‘match of the day’ away to Blantyre and it is a major frustration for the table-topping visitors that they travel with two of their super-stars in the shape of internationalist Ronnie Duncan and Colin Walker.Blantyre sit two points adrift of Midlothian and are close to being unbeatable at home so the depleted visitors travel more in hope than expectation of pulling off a win that would make them firmer favourites to reach the playoff final.Duncan and Walker are down South competing as a partnership in the World Indoor Pairs Championship robbing Midlothian of two skips and forcing team manager Frank Gray to give Davy Munro his first experience at the helm of a rink.Rink 1. Jamie Aitken, Ian Fleming, Colin McFarlane, and Billy Peacock.Rink 2. Neil Watson, Andy Kelly, Kevin McDougall, and AJ Knight.Rink 3. Ian Forbes, Ryan Yuill, Colin Bonner, and Davy Munro.Rink 4. Jamie Macnab, Lindsay Plenderleith, Andy Caldwell, and David Peacock ©.
West Lothian IBC also remains in the firing line and the three-in-row defending champions will stay a serious threat if able to deliver a home win at Livingston over fellow contenders Abbeyview.The Fifers have shown good form to be joint second with West Lothian and Blantyre so the following WL line up will need to perform up to the mark.Rink 1. Paul Lynas, Raymond Logan, Jamie Gracie, and Mark Allison. Rink 2. Richard Mark, Stuart Johnston, Craig Moss, and Calum Logan.Rink 3. Bryan Cooper, Dougie Mitchell, Paul O’Donnell, and Neil Speirs. Rink 4. Cameron Greer, Ian Drysdale, James Speirs, and Thomas Mann ©.