EAST Lothian Indoor Bowling Club’s gents’ team entered Saturday’s league game against Aberdeen knowing that anything but a win would be disastrous to any hopes of progressing to the knockout stages, writes Matt Osborne.

Indeed, the home side imposed themselves early in the contest and raced to a 20-shot lead, with the visitors stuck on 10 shots for an eight-end period.

It would be a comfortable afternoon for the home side, with Billy Mellors registering a six at just the second end and pushing on to a 17-8 lead at end 15.

The talismanic figure of Alex Marshall hit a purple patch, scoring eight consecutive ends on his way to a 17-2 lead over under-25 star Jak Miller.

Team captain Lewis Betts kept the high scoring going with a 17-7 lead over Andrew Thomson.

Dean Riva and Mike Stephen were locked in a close affair, with the Aberdeen man holding a narrow 16-13 lead at end 16.

READ MORE: Bowls: East Lothian go down to first defeat of the season

There would be no reprieve for the away side as East Lothian’s bowlers continued their impressive display to the closing ends.

A last-end triple for Riva was the icing on the proverbial cake as East Lothian claimed the clean sweep across the carpet.

The result propels East Lothian to the top of the highly competitive Premier B section and sets up a mouthwatering clash with current champions Midlothian next month.

Meanwhile, the East Lothian ladies return to league action tomorrow (Saturday) as they entertain Tweedbank at Meadowmill.

The ladies started their league campaign with a win away at Bainfield and will be looking to use their home advantage to secure back-to-back wins in their section.

Finally, Robbie Shields and Danny Stevenson headed to Dundee at the weekend, representing East Lothian in the junior singles competition.

READ MORE: Danny Stevenson misses out on bid for historic double

Both registered wins in the opening session, Shields seeing off the challenge of Tweedbank 21-14.

Stevenson did likewise against the Elgin representative 21-10.

Unfortunately, Stevenson was unable to replicate his impressive performance in the afternoon and fell to a 21-13 defeat at the hands of Finlay Gowan (Turriff).

Shields, however, continued his morning form, surviving a late comeback against Arbroath to claim his place in the last 16 (21-17).

He now faces current under-25 outdoor champion Daniel Martin (Abbeyview) and he will return to Dundee on Sunday, November 12, hoping to progress to the semi-final stage.