Bainfield and Porty both seeking home comforts

Bainfield embark on the second half of their national indoor bowls league campaign in Division 1B with home advantage against East Fife tomorrow and the joint leaders aim to step up their challenge for promotion to the Premier League.

Chris Downie will miss the action at the Hutchison Crossway stadium and the former junior cap’s place at lead to Gavin Smith is taken up with teenager Stephen Pringle being moved from second and Russell Wilson brought in reserve.

Joint leaders Tweedbank face a testing visit to Stirling, while Balbardie will be looking for a home win over bottom club Cumbernauld.

Portobello share top spot in Division 2B with Whiteinch, and their promotion prospects should be enhanced with home advantage over Allander, who prop up the standings. although some enforced changes have been made. Club champion Ian Fleming is unavailable and his place at third to Willie McDonald is taken by Scott Rogers, whose switch from second to Stuart Betts is covered by the recall of Robert Wood. BJ Smith is recalled to play second to Andrew Caldwell and cover the absence of Andrew Davie.

West Lothian are unchanged for their visit to foot-of-the-table Alloa in the A section of the Premier League and look a safer bet than chief rivals Blantyre and East Lothian, who face testing challenges away to Prestwick and Paisley.

Scott Kennedy was East Lothian’s only winning skip in a 76-62 away defeat to Prestwick last weekend, leading to a few changes against a Paisley team unbeaten at home. Derek Oliver returns from the European Championships where he won Silver in the Mixed Fours, to skip in place of Kennedy, who is switched to play third to Graham Robertson. Alan Young is unavailable and David Oliver and Chris Fallen stood down, leading to the introduction of Gary Darling at lead to Willie Wood and Derek Lowe at second to Robertson.

Midlothian scored a super 81-58 away win over Aberdeen in the B section of the Premier League last weekend with wins for the rinks skipped by Willie Rankin (25-9), Graeme Archer (23-13) and AJ Knight (20-14), covering the 22-12 defeat of Billy Peacock. Surprise league leaders Falkirk visit the Dalkeith stadium tomorrow with Colin Walker returning to skip and Mark Yuill debuting.