Due to the Coronavirus pandemic both West Lothian IBC and Balbardie IBC have made the decision to close their doors until further notice.
Read MoreScotland faced the Auld Enemy needing a victory against the defending champions to recapture the title but despite a bold attempt lost out by 12 shots with England winning 123-111 to capture the Hilton Trophy for the 6th time in a row. The Scots finished with two winning, one drawn, and three losing rinks in a match that saw them against the collar from the first end and facing an uphill battle with a daunting 22 shot deficit (78-56) after twelve ends.
But battle they did, and bravely so to set the pulse rates racing as a later scoreline of 98-96 in favour of the Scots flashed up on the master scoreboard. But rising hopes of a great Scots victory were short lived as England came again and produced the stronger finish to outgun their opposition 27-13 on the run to the finishing line.
Speirs, who had won his earlier games against Ireland and Wales, suffered a nightmare start against England having trailed 18-1 after 7 ends but to their great credit produced a strong fight-back that closed them to 19-21 after 17. But England skip Jamie Walker managed to keep Speirs and his front-three of Jamie Higgins, James Speirs (brother), and James Rippey at bay to win 26-21.
Scotland had launched their campaign with a hard fought 121-106 win over Ireland with Speirs converting a 14-11 deficit into a 24-19 win over Stephen Kirkwood. Speirs set a strong pace against David Kindon of Wales to skip his rink into an 8-0 lead then traded on that comfort zone to contribute a 22-11 win to Scotland’s commanding 143-88 victory over the host nation. The final table read; England 6 points + 96 shots; Scotland 4 +58; Ireland 2 –37; Wales 0 – 115.
Balbardie Ladies saw their promising run in the Scottish Cup ended by a 6-4 defeat from Headwell in their quarterfinal clash at Abbeyview, Dunfermline.