Edinburgh & Leith bounced off the canvas to tremendous effect in delivering a 116-110 winning performance at the expense of a strongly formed Midlothian team much fancied to follow up on their opening 22 shot win over East Lothian in the Cities and Counties Championship.
Read MoreToday’s match brings E&L home advantage at Parkside against a Stirling County East opposition that isn’t noted to be strong travellers but as all teams in the highly competitive East Section must be treated with respect.Building a momentum is vital in mounting a serious challenge however the E&L team management is challenged by Bank Holiday Weekend and Cup Final attractions at Hampden Park causing a much changed line up being asked to fight the cause at Parkside. Rink 1. Lewis Betts, John Ramsay (Slateford), Gordon Ramsay, and Robert Marshall. Rink 2. Stuart isbister, Andy McNab, Euan Craig, and James Hogg. Rink 3. Craig Mackintosh, Ross Thomson, Robert Donaldson, and Paul Veitch. Rink 4. Ross Noble, Ali McKenna, Kevin Tennant, and John McDermott. Rink 5. Mark McIntosh, Graham Duff, John Kidd, and Neil Watson. Rink 6. Adam Brock, Gavin Ramsay, Liam McKay, and Richard Tough. The missing players from last weekend being, Alan Brown, Graeme Eddington, Darren Hush, Paul O’Donnell, Stephen Pringle, Daniel Gormley, and John Ramsay of Carrick Knowe.
Midlothian seek redemption, and are expected to achieve it, away to Fife County at Strathmiglo and travel without Craig Hodge, Kevin McDougall, Graeme Archer, Stuart Fleming, Ian Paterson, and Colin Walker.
Rink 1. Andrew Wilton, Aaron Clinkscales ,Dougie Russel, and Scott Briggs. Rink 2. Tom Moffat, Mark Thorburn, Ramsay Blair, and Danny McDougall. Rink 3. Brian Yuill, Gary Thomson, Neil Linton, and Davy Peacock. Rink 4. Mark Yuill, Grant King, John Stevenson, and Colin Macfarlane. Rink 5. Neil Melrose, Jack Macnab, AJ Knight, and Jim Cullen. Rink 6. Paul Innes, Peter Innes, David McGlynn, and Colin Bonner.
East Lothian have failed to shine against Midlothian and West Lothian so bid to get off the mark at the third attempt but have their hands full with a challenging visit to Borders at Abbotsford. Their team reads,
Rink 1. D Young, K Dodds, D Riva, and Brian Young. Rink 2. C Johnston, S Anderson, S Johnston, and Craig Valentine. Rink 3. R Shields, G Inglis, G Dodds, and Colin Glen. Rink 4. A Burt, G Baillie, W Dunleavey, and Steven Morgan. Rink 5. K Cunningham, M Osborne, G White, and J McCrorie. Rink 6. A Martin, T Young, S Thomson, and Mal Higgenbotham.
West Lothian bid to make it three wins in a row and have home environment advantage at Linlithgow but face a top of the table clash with the also undefeated West Fife. Team manager John Black makes two changes with David Lamb and last years winning captain Gary Smith returning in place of Scott Mushet, and Thomas Mann. Smith skips a front-three of Jamie Aitken, Robbie Cuthill, and Cameron Greer while Lamb plays second to Ewan Shearer, Calum Logan, and Andy Dunnet.
Midlothian champions, Buchleuch, have emerged as the shock-troops Club in the Countrywide Wills & Trusts Inter County Top Ten having captured the scalp of Edinburgh giants Craigentinny and East Lothian king- pins Tranent. Home advantage in tomorrow’s second round proper gives them a great chance against far travelled Kittybrewster & Woodside of Bon Accord who are on away territory for the first time.
Linlithgow made it into round 2 on shot margin (77-43) having been held to a 4-4 share of the points at home to Stronvaar of Argyll & Bute. The West Lothian champions now face a testing visit to their Ayrshire counterparts, Glaisnock.