Beth Riva and Dee Hoggan help Scotland to bowls glory

Following success for both ladies’ and gents’ under-25 Scotland squads, it was the turn of the full ladies’ team to take to the international stage at Falcon Indoor Bowling Club.

Scotland suffered an overall series defeat at Abbeyview last year and headed into England with visions of overturning the narrow defeat they experienced at the hands of England in the final session.

They started this year’s campaign with a resounding 155-91 win over Wales in session one.

Riva and Hoggan both enjoyed wins as Scotland claimed victories on five of the six rinks.

They headed into the second session against Ireland already trailing England by 30-plus shots.

Scotland responded to the marker laid down and swept the Ireland squad aside in a whitewash session (188-68).

Beth Riva has enjoyed international success

Riva (+35 shots) and Hoggan (+24) contributed to the most one-sided game in the series and put Scotland in the driving seat against England in session three.

The meeting of the two strongest teams on paper for the final session would see the winner crowned the series champions. Scotland had the luxury of knowing that a draw would also see them crowned champions.

The two teams were not separated by any more than nine shots across the opening eight ends.

Scotland made the first significant gain and opened up a 56-40 lead.

England did respond at end 12, winning well across the carpet to bring the game outcome back into question.

End 16 saw Scotland open a 20-shot margin (89-69) and put one hand on the title.

They continued to apply the pressure to the last ends, increasing their lead to 113-83.

Dee Hoggan was part of the victorious Scotland squad

England conceded moments later and handed the Clara Johns Trophy to Scotland, who won 115-91.

Meanwhile, closer to home, East Lothian were looking to progress to the semi-final of the Scottish Cup as they headed to Perth in the final playdown stages of the cup.

They faced Lanarkshire in the second round, with the sides both winning the home fixture during their respective league campaigns.

The neutral venue suited East Lothian the better as they progressed with a narrow 6-4 win.

They would then face newly promoted side West of Scotland in the quarter-final.

East Lothian asked question after question, with West of Scotland having little answer throughout the afternoon session. The tie was conceded well in advance of the regulation 17 ends as East Lothian registered a 10-0 win.

The squad now advance to the last four alongside Midlothian, West Lothian and Falkirk.

They face each other on April 6 in an open draw.