East Lothian 25/10

The rinks of Alex Marshall MBE and Billy Mellors were fastest out of the blocks and went on to completely dominate their games and recorded 35-8 and 34-11 victories respectively. Derek Oliver’s rink always led the way in their game and were never in doubt in recording a 20-12 win whilst Scott Kennedy’s rink found themselves 5-12 down early on but battled back to produce a 24-17 victory. The gents are missing the services of several players for the visit of newly promoted Prestwick this week and have re-shuffled the team and send out the following team to maintain their undefeated start to the season: Mark Yuill, Robbie Shields, Aaron Betts and Alex Marshall MBE (Skip) Mark Johnston, Adam Martin, Dougie Berwick and Stuart Thomson Andy Jeffrey, Kieran Dodds, Chris Brock and Joe Mower Calum Darling, Danny Stevenson, Lewis Betts and Billy Mellors

The Ladies team suffered a crushing blow to their premier league hopes when they suffered an away defeat to East Fife in Methil last Saturday by 60-71. The ladies made the better start to the game and at the half way stage had fought their way to a nineteen shot lead, however a disastrous second half cost them. The rink of Dee Hoggan had the worst second half against Lynn Stein’s rink when they collapsed from a 21-7 lead at ten ends to lose nie of the last eleven ends and eventually lose their game 25-30. The rink of Yvonne Veitch were involved in a great tussle with Julie Sword in which they led 13-6 at half way before another poor last few ends seen them lose out on six of the last seven ends to fall to a 16-19 defeat. Janet Fairnie’s rink were also involved in a close match with Celia Smith with the lead changing hands on five occasions before they were just pipped 19-22. The ladies are not in action this week and next play on the 2nd November when they face Midlothian at the Alex Marshall Arena in a must win game.

The ladies singles play-offs take place this weekend and young star Beth Riva will aim to stamp her mark on the event when she debuts at Aberdeen against Frances Haxton from Paisley in the first round proper at 12.30pm and will then return to Aberdeen at 10am on Sunday for last sixteen action should she win.

Last Sunday the National Two bowl Pairs play-offs took place and there was to be no success for the Garden County entrants as our gents’ pair of Peter Fallen and Danny Stevenson lost out 2-0 to the talented Bryan Cooper and Neil Speirs of West Lothian while the ladies pair of Mags Thomson and Janet Fairnie won their first game 2-0 against Midlothian but then lost out agonisingly on a tie-break to Heather Stoddart and Mandy Jenkin from Bainfield.

The Garden County Senior brigade faced Balbardie at the Alex Marshall Arena last Wednesday and got off to flyer of a start to lead by seventeen shots after only five ends. They continued to dominate their opponents and had extended the lead to thirty six shots at the ten end stage. The final result was an excellent 78-41 win which helps their shots aggregate. The rink of Andy Burt lead the way with a fourteen shot win and the three other rinks also recorded victories with Tom Young (+10), Graham Robertson (+7) and Willie Wood (+6) all contributing to the victory. This Wednesday the Seniors were due to travel to Teviotdale and the following team had been named: Ronnie Douglas, Brian Johnston, David McGill & W W Wood (skip), Alastair Russell, Brian Smith, Ali McKenna & Andy Burt, Lessel Middler, Robert Steele, Dougie Berwick & Graham Robertson ,Peter Fallen, Keith Fender, Gordon Gray & Tom Young (Captain). 5th rink – Kenny Boyd, Alan Valentine, John Hamilton and Davie Pryde, Reserves – Ross Maguire, Duncan Hogg, and Jimmy Neilson.

This Sunday sees the start of the National Senior knockouts with our singles, pairs and triples representatives all in action. In the singles Ali McKenna is in first round against Midlothian at Midlothian at 10am. In the pairs Lessel Middler and Willie Wood MBE also face at team on their own carpet when they play Bainfield at Bainfield at 10am. The senior triple of Dougie Berwick, Tommy Young and Graham Robertson are also in action at Bainfield at 10am when they play Headwell.

Last Friday Aaron Betts was successful in the singles play-off for our place in the Scottish Masters following a final victory over Kieran Dodds. Aaron then went forward to the national play-downs at Abbeyview on Sunday. Aaron won his section comfortably following wins over Auchinleck (11-6), Aberdeen (16-5) and Dumbarton (16-3) which qualified him for the quarter finals. Here Aaron faced under 18 international colleague Sophie McGrouther and despite a close contest was not able to continue his excellent form from the morning games and bowed out of the competition as Sophie won 3-9, 6-6. Aaron was three down on the last end of the second set and needing four shots to take it to a tie-break and only just failed with his last bowl.