West Lothian IBC gents face a must win – and should win – match against foot of the table Fraserburgh who make the long journey South to the Inveralmond Stadium on Saturday with a record of zero wins out of five in the A Division of the Premier League.
The home team have disappointed with just 2 wins out of 5 that have them flirting with the relegation zone just two points ahead of second from bottom West of Scotland and it would be a further boost to WL were WOS to lose at home to second from top Ardrossan.
However the return to action of two highly successful international stars in the shape of Thomas Mann and George Sneddon should prove to be a major asset while Graeme Lees makes his debut.
The recast line up reads;
Rink 1. Jamie Aitken, Connor McKendrick, Cameron Greer, and Team captain Craig Moss.
Rink 2. Richard Mark, Ian Drysdale, Bryan Cooper, and Calum Logan.
Rink 3. Jim Speirs, Raymond Logan, Gary Orr, and Mark Allison.
Rink 4. David Wilson, Graeme Lees, George Sneddon, and Thomas Mann.
Meanwhiie the gents of Balbardie have struggled to make a positive impression in Section B of Division and are at the foot of the table with one win out of five and this weekends prospects are not bright despite being at home.
Auchinleck are the visitors to the Park of Peace in Bathgate and the Ayrshire cracks sit top of the table with five wins out of five.
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The playdown action of the Scottish Fours Championship over last weekend produced two local highlights with the Gents of West Lothian and the Ladies of Balbardie parading their skills in exciting and successful fashion.
Neil Speirs skipped his front-three of Bryan Cooper, Dougie Mitchell, and James Speirs to four victories and the reward of reaching the glamour semi final stage of finals weekend at West of Scotland over March 28/29.
The 17-14 prelim round win over Allander was followed by a 21-16 triumph over Alloa then the 22-15 capture of the scalp of Abbeyview.
The section final on home territory was a nail biting cliff hanger that went right down to the wire with Speirs and Co carding a single at the last to clinch an epic 20-19 win over East Fife.
The opposition in the semi finals brings Speirs and Co head to head with world stage super star Paul Foster and his Prestwick rink of Andy Kilday, Colin Howie, and Darren Weir.
The other semi final features the star studded Midlothian rink of Ronnie Duncan, Billy Peacock, David Peacock, and Colin Walker against Jason Banks (skip) of Garioch.
The Balbardie rink of Lindsay Forrest, David Rodgers, John Ellis, and Sandy McDougall made a first round exit in their Lanarkshire IBC section losing 23-13 to East Lothian giants, Jamie Higgins, Scott Kennedy, Billy Mellors, and Derek Oliver.
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The Ladies of Balbardie fared much better on their visit to the Lanarkshire venue with international star Lorraine Craig and her front-three of Kim Ross, Delia Flannigan, and Sharon Leitch operating in dynamic high flying mode.
Craig and Co crushed Coatbridge, 28-4, in the prelim round then dealt a 26-17 exit to Falkirk followed by the 25-6 overwhelming of Ayr to reach the section final.
The formidable EL rink of Hazel Fender, Mags Thomson, Yvonne Veitch, and Janet Fairnie did put up a staunch fight against Balbardie but another inspired effort saw Craig and her rink clinch a 20-17 victory.
A tough semi final now looms at West of Scotland come the end of March in the shape of the legendary figure of Julie Forrest who skips her Teviotdale rink of Betty Gibson, Ruth Jones, and Joyce Dickie.
Stonehaven (Catherine McIntosh) lines up in the other semi final against Claire Johnston of Auchinleck.
Meanwhile a bold campaign by the West Lothian rink of Alison Brown, Jennifer Sneddon, Jean Brown, and Wendy Purdie produced wins over Alloa (28-15); Tweedbank (23-16); and East Fife (24-15); before losing 17-14 to Julie Forrest in the section final.
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