West Lothian had their dreams of achieving title glory in The Cities and Counties Championship for The Hamilton Trophy smashed to smithereens by a Lanarkshire South opposition that trounced them by 37 shots (142-105) in their semi final clash at East Lothian Co-op.
Read MoreA gutted West Lothian camp had little to cheer at the end of an anti climax team performance that saw Grant Logan emerge the only successful skip while his colleagues Neil Speirs, Thomas Mann, Steven Fleming, Raymond Logan, and Andy Dunnett all played second fiddle to their respective oppositions. Both teams were psyched up to gain an early supremacy and with WL showing 38-28 ahead after seven-ends on five rinks it suggested that it was they that looked set to call the tune.
But Lanarkshire South were dancing to a different music score on the sixth rink and it was a centre stage 18-1 chart buster of a performance that saw their rink skipped by Stuart Simpson dwarf Neil Speirs and Co, and sentence them to the pits. West Lothians depressing 46-39 setback on that first phase was a situation encored on the second where a 29-29 share over five rinks was knocked haywire by the 13-2 loss of Andy Dunnett, the 42-31 outcome stretching the LS match lead to 18.
A strong third phase revival from WL would have set up a grandstand style race to the winning line but that wild hope was crushed first end in with Grant Logan dropping a seven, and with Thomas Mann heading for a 10-2 deficit the final outcome was the humbling 54-35 domination of Lanarkshire South. Final Rink Scores; Grant Logan 23 Stewart Anderson 21; Andy Dunnett 20 John Simpson 22; Ray Logan 13 David Gardner 19; Steven Fleming 17 Iain McLean 26; Thomas Mann 15 Robert Grant 26; Neil Speirs 17 Stuart Simpson 28.
WL MASTERS
Four seeds bit the dust in Round 1 of the Johnston Oils sponsored 19th West Lothian Masters with No 9 Brian Craig of Glenmavis, the highest ranked to lose sight of the £1000 title and signature Green Jacket. Craig, WLM in 2014, faced a tough cookie in year 2000 finalist Brian Saunders of Bathgate High and suffered a 21-9 defeat; but not in isolation as he was joined on the sidelines Seeds, 10,13, and 16.
The defeat of Kirkliston star Calum Logan (No10) was a major shock as he had shaped up well to lead Andy Mitchell of Pumpherston 14-10; but a surprising loss of both line and length caused his dramatic collapse to a 21-15 exit. Brian Cooper (No13) reached the final in 2008 but made an early exit at the hands of Rab Shaw Jnr of East Calder, just touched off in a 21-19 thriller; while Darren Pearce (No16) of Kirkliston piped 21-20 by Jim McKinnon of Armadale.
Greg Logan the No1 Seed and his older brother Grant (No2) both made progress; but their father Gordon was unable to cope with Derek Kerr of Armadale while his 10 year old Grandson Kyle lost to former Champion of Champion Walter McDougall of Glenmavis. A close 21-20 outcome saw Ruary Love of Bellsburn nip Alan Robertson of Blackburn; while World and Commonwealth Games Gold Medal winner George Sneddon was big name casualty. Losing to Andy Jenkins of East Calder.
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