The first event of the World Bowls Tour commences this weekend when the Scottish International Open takes place in Perth.
Read MoreThe ladies singles play-offs took place last weekend and young County star Beth Riva was in action and made the long trip to Aberdeen for the play-offs. Beth opened up her campaign against Frances Haxton from Paisley on Saturday in a game which ebbed and flowed either way with the lead changing hand on a couple of occasions early on. Beth found herself 7-12 down but battled back over the next few ends to narrow the difference to 14-17. Over the next two ends the players traded doubles and with the scores then at 16-19 Beth hit her top form to close out the game with two excellent ends scoring 4,1 to progress to the last sixteen. Beth returned for this game on Sunday where she faced the talented Rachel Sinclair from West of Scotland. Rachel was in great form from the start of the game and never really gave Beth a chance to settle into a rhythm and eventually ran out a 7-21 winner. At such a young age Beth, who is still in the youth section at the Alex Marshall Arena, can be proud of her achievements as Rachel also won her next game comfortably to progress to the semi-finals.
The gents’ team faced newly promoted Prestwick in the Premier League last Saturday and recorded an excellent 76-72 win over a strong Prestwick team which included internationalists and world stage players Paul Foster, Darren Weir and John Fleming. It was Prestwich who were fastest out of the blocks and having opened up a double figure lead in the earliest of stages went on to lead 21-12 at the five end stage. By the tenth end of the game East Lothian had battled back to lead by four shots. Over the remainder of the game there was only ever single figures between the teams in a great game. East Lothian always just held the upper hand, however, and kept control of the closing stages of the game to record their four shot victory and maintain their undefeated start to the season. The rink of Billy Mellors were in great form from the outset and led the opposing rink skipped by Davie Crawford 15-2 at the ten end stage and never really took their foot of the accelerator as they produced a 28-10 victory. Alex Marshall MBE and his rink found themselves 3-9 down after five ends against the rink of Darren Weir but fought back well to peel the game 11-11 after ten ends and from then on an excellent game was played out with the lead changing hands a couple of times before they were just edged out 18-19. Deputising skips Stuart Thomson was in great form all game to keep his rink in the game and saved shots on a number of occasions despite being on the wrong end of a final 14-20 scoreline against Paul Foster’s rink while the rink of Joe Mower never really recovered fully from an early 1-9 deficit but battled the whole game, eventually losing out 16-23.
The gents have no game this Saturday as the National Junior Singles play-offs take place at Dundee. Representing East Lothian are Lewis Betts and Chris Brock. Both are in action at Noon with Lewis playing Aberdeen 1 and Chris facing Finlay Gowan from Turiff.
The Ladies return to action this week and the following team has been named to face Midlothian at the Alex Marshall Arena in a must win game: Beth Riva, Chandrika Monro, Megan Kivlin & Yvonne Veitch (Skip) Jacky McFarlane, Melissa Penman, Mags Thomson & Janet Fairnie Lucy Hogg, Arlene Berwick, Kim Hoggan & Dee Hoggan Res: Margaret Murray & Pat Turner
The Garden County Senior brigade travelled to Teviotdale last Wednesday and continued their winning ways with a resounding 82-44 triumph. The Auld Yins got off to another storming start to open up a twenty shot lead by the tenth end of the game and continued to stamp their dominance on the game throughout to eventually run out winners by an 82-44 scoreline. Top scorers were Tommy Young’s rink who produced a 25-5 win and were backed up by the rink of Graham Robertson who won 27-8. Willie Wood MBE and his rink were involved in a ding-dong tussle with Les Clarkson which ended up in a peeled game whilst despite leading by ten shots early on Andy Burt’s rink’s lead was clawed back and they eventually just lost out 17-18. On Wednesday the seniors were due to host Headwell and the following team had been named: Ronnie Douglas, Brian Johnston, Alistair Russell & W W Wood (skip) Brian Smith, Davie Pryde, 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, Duncan Hogg, John Hamilton and Ross Maguire Reserves – Jimmy Neilson.
Last Sunday seen the start of the National Senior knockouts, however, it was to be a disappointing day for the Senior brigade as our singles, pairs and triples representatives all exited the competition. In the singles Ali McKenna was edged out 19-21 by George Cairns from Midlothian in the first round. In the pairs Lessel Middler and Willie Wood MBE won their first game 21-15 against Bainfield before facing West Lothian’s Duncan Lawson and David Wilson and in a close encounter just lost out 14-17. The senior triple of Dougie Berwick, Tommy Young and Graham Robertson won their preliminary round 14-10 against Headwell and then went on to face Bainfield’s Willie McIntosh, Jim Cowan and Bill Little in the first round proper and again in a close encounter and in a very close encounter were just pipped 12-13 to also exit the competition. Our final entrants in the fours are in action on Sunday November 10th at West Lothian against Balbardie.