Bowls: Craigentinny supply the bulk of bowlers for E&L trial

Edinburgh & Leith have named 35 bowls players in their trial squad ahead of the 2012 Scottish Cities and Counties Championship campaign for the Andrew Hamilton Trophy and they will parade their skills in front of newly appointed team manager Willie Watson of Parkside at Sighthill on Saturday, May 5.

Craigentinny have legitimate claims to being the team of the year in the Capital last season so it is no surprise that they supply the bulk of the players with no less than eight.

Ian Paterson, the 2001 Tait Trophy Champion, and Andrew Caldwell, the 2005 Scottish Junior Singles Champion, are joined by clubmates Gordon Bold, Willie McDonald, Daniel Gormley, Kevin Hunter, David Brown, and Craig McCall.

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It is unlikely that all eight will make the team for the opening fixture against West Lothian at Pumpherston on May 12, however all of have legitimate claims be included in the trial.

It will rank as a major surprise, however, that E&L have failed to send encouraging signals to Craigentinny 17-year-old Josh Spalding who reached the final of the national junior singles at Ayr last year.

Bainfield provide four players in the shape of Paul O’Donnell, Brian Stoddart, Craig Paterson and Russell Wilson, and that is matched by Pilrig who have Gavin Smith, Euan Craig, Scott Noble, and Scott Rogers in the trial line up.

Parkside equal that representation in the naming of Robert Donaldson, Alex Hurry, Paul Veitch, and Neil Watson, while Jamie Gracie, John McDermott, and Alan Trotter give Sighthill a presence of three.

Tanfield also provide three of their stars: Mal Higgenbotham, Andrew Sneddon, and Stuart Campbell, while there is double representation for Goldenacre: Colin Hutchison, Billy Mellors, Carrick Knowe: Darren Hush, James Hogg, and Slateford: Robert Marshall, Dougie Martin. Alan Brown (Gorgie Mills), Jamie Reid (Northern), and Malcolm Weir (Whitehouse & Grange) complete the trial squad.

Meanwhile, Graham Robertson failed in his bid for a record fourth success at East Lothian IBC when losing 21-11 to Dougie Berwick who had built up a sensational 10-0 lead in the final.

Dee Hoggan etched her name on the silverware of the Ladies’ Singles Championship for the first time, beating Janet Fairnie 21-18. The final of the Under-25 Junior Singles saw Kieran Simants capturing the title at the 21-18 expense of Jamie Blair.