SCOTLAND’S young bowling stars completed another international series win at the weekend, writes Matt Osborne.
The under-18s squad claimed overall victory at Belfast’s Belmont Bowling Club.
Scotland went into the final session against England knowing that just four points from the 12 available would be enough to seal the series win.
The youngsters continued their fine weekend form as they wrapped up proceedings with a 10-2 victory to finish well clear of their English counterparts.
Port Seton’s Logan Kennedy enjoyed a clean sweep of wins against Ireland, Wales and England in the pairs alongside partner Sarah Campbell.
League action
Meanwhile, on home soil, Port Seton have stretched their lead at the top of the East Lothian Bowls league structure and now hold an eight-point advantage over the chasing pack.
Port Seton temporarily halted EL Co-op’s mid-season revival with a 6-2 home win, while West Barns took victory by the same scoreline against high-flying visitors Haddington.
Tranent fell to back-to-back defeats for the first time this season as they lost out at Prestongrange.
Aberlady claimed a much-needed 6-2 win over bottom side Dunbar to escape the drop zone and they were replaced there by East Linton, despite their 4-4 draw against Ormiston.
Port Seton will look to keep the pressure on the challengers this week as they head to East Linton, while Tranent take on early-season high-flyers Ormiston.
Haddington will look to reignite their top-spot ambition against Prestongrange at home and Dunbar face the tricky prospect of an away day at EL Co-op, knowing points are becoming a premium to avoid the trapdoor from Division One.
Elphinstone continue to hold top spot in Division Two but have seen their lead slashed to just five points over the past few weeks.
A defeat against second-placed Castlepark saw their winless streak run into a fourth fixture.
EL Co-op A remain best-placed of the chasing pack for a promotion place as they sit seven points further back in third.
With just five points separating fourth from eighth in the table, Division Two remains the closest in the East Lothian structure, with relegation a bigger issue for those clubs rather than promotion.
Haddington A remain adrift at the foot of the table but did claim a 6-2 win at home to Prestongrange A to boost survival hopes.
In Division Three, East Linton A hold a comfortable 10-point lead in the race for promotion, but Ormiston A have climbed to second in the table and sit just five points off the top, with Cockburnspath five points further back in third.
Longniddry, Gifford and Port Seton B are all within touching distance and could mount a promotion challenge with positive results.
The top two tackle the bottom two in winnable-looking fixtures, so the chasing pack will all likely need wins to keep pace with the league leaders.
Finally, West Barns A and Gullane look to have unassailable 17-point leads in the two promotion places available in Division Four.
Aberlady A and Tranent B are the best of the rest but cannot afford to lose any further ground if they aspire for a place in Division Three next season.
West Barns A and Aberlady A meet this week in a clash that could put daylight between the two sides.
Gullane head to Macmerry A, who sit 12 points above the bottom two.
National action
Finally, East Lothian bowlers continue their quest for national titles beginning this weekend as they descend on Ayr, Northfield.
Stage two of the national playdowns begins with the following line ups:
Saturday: 9.30am – mixed pairs: Tranent (Kevin Cunningham and Emma Blyth) v Old Kilpatrick; 11.30am – youth singles: Port Seton (Logan Kennedy) v Quarter BC.
Sunday: 9.30am – gents’ over-55 singles: Haddington (Gordon Hunter) v Mount Vernon; noon – ladies’ junior singles: Port Seton (Lucy Hogg) v Cardonald; ladies’ over-55 singles: Ormiston (Yvonne Veitch) v Orbiston; gents’ junior singles: Gifford (Dean Riva) v Garelochhead; gents’ over-55 fours: East Linton (Andy Buddy, Jock Cowan, Colin Murdoch and Keith Hamilton) v Lenzie.
Wednesday: 9.30am – ladies’ pairs: Port Seton (Leanne Watt and Lauren Baillie-Whyte) v Buchan Park; ladies’ fours: Ormiston (Chloe McMillan, Emily Johnston, Lucy Walker and Yvonne Veitch) v Condorrat; 12.30pm – gents’ fours: Aberlady (Colin Penman, Dean French, Bill Dunleavy and Declan French) v Cathcart; ladies’ triples: Macmerry (Mo, Gillian and Irene Bryson) v Stranraer; 3.30pm – gents’ pairs: Elphinstone (Stuart Runciman and Scott Runciman) v Gordon.
Thursday: 9.30am – ladies’ singles: Tranent (Kim Hoggan) v Currie; 12.30pm – gents’ triples: Tranent (David Sands, Adam Martin and John McCrorie) v Kinross & Hunters Quay.
All draws can be found on the Bowls Scotland website, with scores and results updated on the East Lothian Bowls social media platforms throughout the week.
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