Bainfield’s debut season in the Edinburgh Bowling League is shaping up as a memorable one as the former Water of Leith giants have notched up four knockout wins to reach the final of the coveted Edinburgh Cup sponsored by Specsavers Opticians.
Tanfield are the latest victims and they represent a major scalp having reached five finals and winning three of them and although the onetime leading lights of the EBL are less of a force at present they are currently runaway leaders of Division 2. The Bainfield passage into the final was a thrilling one in the extreme as the semi final points were shared 6-6 and a pressure keg climax saw ‘the new boys’ erupt in excited celebration relief with the shot margin scales tipping 91-90 in their favour. Whilst it was the unfolding drama on the Tanfield leg that was to trigger the victory salute the nature of the final result highlights the developments at Bainfield where the outcomes were to be of great significance.
Bearing in mind that shot margin was to become the deciding factor it reads well that Steven Pilley and his rink of Archie Hickstead, Ian Pilley, and John Milne produced a 4, 1 finish to register a 20-14 win over Andy McNab. Stuart Clark skipped Paul Stoddart, Willie Dyet, and David McNair on a purple patch run of 3, 3, 2, 2, to cross into a 21-12 lead then won 21-16; but dropping that 4 at the last against Robert White caused nail biting moments in both camps. Adam Brock and his rink of Jim Cowan, Dick Wilson, and Gary Neil added two singles to lead 13-11 but were nipped 14-13 by a 2, 1 finish from Alec Thomson, Jim Murray, Liam McKay, and Mal Higgenbotham.
The focus swung to Tanfield where the Bainfield rink of Murray Brown, Peter Stewart, Davy Baptie, and Paul Millar were first off having lost 17-11; but finishing 2, 1 against Stephen Derrighetti, George Mitchell, Derek McLean, and Scott Wood. Craig Paterson and his front-three of Graham Fergus, Jimmy Ross, and Stewart Jenkins was the next Bainfield rink to finish and were nursing a 17-12 defeat from Jimmy Smith, George Ganson, Alec James, and Neil Russell. But Paterson’s 2, 1, 1 finish made another vital contribution to the shot aggregate of the match. The last rink to finish saw the Bainfield four of Graham Angus, Mike Sutherland, Stewart Wilson, and Brian Stoddart against the collar at 12-11 down to Kenny Lackie, Stuart Thompson, Ian Duffus, and Stuart Campbell. Stoddart converted the second last end for a double to cross 13-12 then with points and shots both of mega importance Campbell burnt the last but the replay saw Bainfield clinch game set and match with a single to 14-12.
Colinton have followed up their 6-2 away thrashing of title favourites Carrick Knowe with a 6-2 win at home to Brunstane that takes them into the quarterfinals stage of The Edinburgh Top Ten. Brunstane were no pushover however with the Colinton wins in the Singles, Pairs and Triples hanging in the balance before the scales tipped in favour of the home side.
David Fisher was their spearhead figure in the Singles and the team captain of the E&L Hamilton Trophy campaign was gripped in the jaws of defeat at 20-17 down to Jamie Gunn before escaping to 21 with a 3, 1 finish. The Pair of Brian Davies and Cammy Cairns kick started their scoring with a super 6 on end two then defended a winning position from 15-12 to edge home 16-15 against Alan McKenzie and Jimmy Clydesdale. It was another close call in the Triples with Ross Byers carding a double at the second last to skip Greg Smith and Alan Milne into a 13-10 lead, and they beat Brian Clark 13-11. Brunstane got due reward in the Fours with George Johnston getting off to a flyer to lead 14-5 then skip his Four to a 14-12 win over Euan Gibson, Greg Milne, Alan MacDonald, and Gary MacDonald.
Hillside are difficult to beat at home and proved the point with an excellent 5-3 win over Tanfield, and in doing so overcome the 21-17 defeat of Colin Hairs by Liam McKay in the Singles. Pairs, 18-15; Triples 11-11; Fours 28-9.
Maitland ended the reign of defending champions West End with a 6-2 win sparked by a 3, 1, 3 finish from Alan Trotter to beat Donny Gilbertson, 21-17 in the Singles. Pairs, 18-9; Triples, 22-11, Fours, 12-13.
Other results- Corstorphine 6 Summerside 2; Merchison lost to Bainfield; Seafield beat Wardie; Slateford 6 Mayfield 2; Luton Place 2 Currie 6.