East Lothian have momentum and ambition on their side when continuing their late challenge for the indoor bowls premier league section B honours against Falkirk this afternoon but the away fixture is a tough one for the garden county elite.
Five wins on the trot – after a disappointing three opening defeats – have driven East Lothian into second place but still a tantalising two points adrift of table toppers Aberdeen with just two fixtures to complete. Aberdeen can only toss away a place in the playoff final and the Dons will be favourites to win today’s match at home to foot of the table Lanarkshire but their visitors are a stronger team than their perilous position suggests.
East Lothian also travel to Falkirk with some trepidation as the relegation strugglers have good form at home and like Lanarkshire are desperate for a win that would be monumental in keeping them clear of an automatic drop to Division 1.“The stakes are high in today’s penultimate matches but our own morale is high and the team in excellent shape to deliver the win that is vital for us to keep the pressure on Aberdeen”, said EL captain Mark Johnston.East Lothian continue without the services of two icon figures in the shape of Alex Marshall MBE and Willie Wood MBE and make one change with Kieran Simants coming in to replace fellow teenager Calvert Allison. Rink 1. Lessel Middler, Gary Darling, Stuart Thomson, and Scott Kennedy.Rink 2. Gary Muir, Andy Burt, Graham Robertson, and Derek Oliver.Rink 3. Ewan Fallen, Kieran Simants, Dougie Berwick, and Billy Mellors.Rink 4. Mark Johnston, Calum Darling, Andy Jeffrey, and Jamie Higgins.
It is also a massive day for the ladies of East Lothian IBC as they go into the final match of their Division 1C league in pole position but only a precarious single point ahead of Balbardie.The top two clash at the Meadowmill Stadium and that should give EL the edge although the leaders only fired on two cylinders in last weekends narrow five shot away win at Tweedbank.There is no team news from the camp of the Bathgate travellers however the EL line up reads,Rink 1. M Kivlin, P Turner, M Thomson, and Janet Fairnie.Rink 2. J McFarlane, R Mackintosh, M Hamilton, and Emma Brown. Rink 3. M Devine, J Russell, C Ward, and Yvonne Veitch. Rink 4. M Murray, I Combe, G Mackintosh, and Nancy McNeil.
The gents of Balbardie are at home to foot of the table Dundee but are well off the pace in Division 1 North sitting third to Arbroath and Turriff.