Bowls: Bainfield welcome back big guns for Whiteinch clash

Published on Friday 23 October 2009 10:14

BAINFIELD will attempt to pick up the pieces of a broken campaign in the indoor bowls B section of Division 1 when they tackle bottom club Whiteinch with their strongest line-up of the season at the Hutchison Crossway Stadium tomorrow.

Team manager John Bell welcomes back Robert Marshall, Craig Moss, Stevie McLeod and Colin Hutchison.

In addition, budding teenage stars Jamie Aitken and Neil Watson return from their recent stint representing Scotland in the Under-18 British Isles International Championships.

Aitken makes the team as second to Chris Downie, Colin Hutchison and Gavin Smith while Watson will occupy the reserve bench with Stuart Patterson, Adam Brock, Darren Hush and John Kidd. Marshall missed the first two matches and the international returns to skip Graeme McIntosh, Brian Stoddart and Jamie Gracie while McLeod will skip Derek Smith, Willie McDonald and Alan Brown.

Paul O'Donnell is given the support of returning team captain Craig Moss at third while the front-end comprises Craig Paterson and Gary Purdie.

"Collecting one point from a possible four wasn't quite how we envisaged the start to our promotion challenge but this week's team is our strongest yet and they will be fired up," said Bell.

Balbardie compete in the same division and the Bathgate-based side face a tough test at Tweedbank with both teams unbeaten.

Portobello top the B section of Division 2 and bid to complete a hat-trick of wins when they visit Allander with a team skipped by Andrew Caldwell, John McDermott, David Brown and Ian Fleming.

East Lothian had yet to name their team but the premier league champions are expected to be at full strength for their trip to Aberdeen in the B section.

West Lothian, who top the A section on shot margin from Prestwick, take on Abroath.

Midlothian go to Prestwick without the Walker brothers and give a debut to Craig Adamson.

MIDLOTHIAN IBC host the playdown action of the Ladies Singles Championship over the weekend with the Dalkeith support set to cheer on their club champion Sandra McLeish.

Angela Uttley represents West Lothian while Lorraine Malloy (Balbardie), Janet Fairnie (East Lothian), Izzy Dixon (Portobello), and Anna Anderson (Bainfield) complete the local challenge.

Holder Julie Forrest of Teviotdale is pursuing a fourth title success in the event.