Bowls: Champions East Lothian spring back to life

East LOTHIAN bowlers bounced back with a vengeance in the East section of the Cities & Counties Championship with last season’s national champions inflicting a 130-108 defeat on previously undefeated West Fife at Lochgelly.

It was EL’s first win of the season, and a surprise one having entered the match without team captain Steven Morgan, team manager Angus Blair, Jim Pringle, Brian Hunter and late call-offs Craig Valentine, Colin Glen and Dougie Berwick.

But the visitors made a great 12-1 start and wins for the rinks skipped by Alex Marshall (+8), Derek Oliver (+7), Willie Wood (+5), and Brian Young (+3), and then a peel for Alister Kennedy and a single-shot defeat for Jamie Higgins, made it a truly inspired team performance on the night. The defeat of West Fife allowed Midlothian to take over top spot on shot margin with their 125-103 victory over Stirling County East at Easthouses inspired by wins for the rinks skipped by Jimmy Gibson, Graeme Archer and Craig Hodge.

Gibson skipped Andy Wilton, Neil Gibson and Kevin McDougall to a super 29-10 win while Archer triumphed 25-11 and Hodge 21-13.