Bowls: Dean have three chances to add silverware to their trophy cabinet

Maitland BC hosts the finals of the Edinburgh Bowling League Knockout Championships tomorrow (2pm) and the 15th occasion of the Mackays Joinery Manufacturing sponsored event is highlighted by a three-pronged title attack by Dean.

Dean chase the glory in the Singles, Pairs and Fours, and it will be a groundbreaking achievement if they land gold in any as the appropriate silverware has never been on display in their trophy cabinet.

George McNab carries the Dean banner in the Singles and, as the current club champion, that form adds the burden and weight of title favourite in his clash against Graham Ward, of Leith.

Ward, though, is the product of a competitive environment at Leith so should have an edge to his game and, like McNab, he is bidding to make it a first for his club.

McNab’s brother, Andy, is a seasoned campaigner and skips the charismatic Roddy Watson for Dean against Tanfield stars Stephen Derighettie and former Tait Trophy champion Derek McLean in the Pairs.

This will be Dean’s sixth appearance in the final and fourth in a row, so they are hoping that the law of averages will bring them a first success. Bob Cranston skips Jim Moffat, Norman Dall and Ross Fairburn in the Fours against Denis Binnie, Paul Kirkwood, Derek Jempson and James MacDougall of Queensberry.

Pilrig look to former E&L Fleming Trophy champion Euan Craig to deliver their first title success in the Junior Singles at the expense of Adam Boath of Hillside who attempts to emulate the triumphs of Gary Muir (2) and Kyle Newall. It’s Donald Forsyth, Alistair McKay and Ian Ramsay for Leith against Malcolm Thom, John Howie and Martin Lewis of Portobello, in the Triples.

And Maitland will cheer a home triumph if Falconer Mitchell, Ken Proudfoot, Jim Robertson and Ian Watson can beat Tom Drummond, Jim Scott, William Wallace and Gordon Walker, of Summerside, in the Seniors Fours.