Bowls: East Lothian made to fight after early semi-final fright

EAST LOTHIAN will contest the final of bowls' Scottish Cup against Aberdeen at Prestwick this weekend and will be bidding to win the trophy for the third time in five years, yet it was a miracle that they survived against Coatbridge in their semi-final clash at Falkirk.

The final score of 83-65 makes fine reading for the East Lothian camp against fellow Premier League opposition, yet the commanding margin of 18 shots hides the drama of a fantastic fight-back from 20 shots down to Coatbridge after just five ends.

East Lothian lined up without the services of three major players in the shape of internationalist skips Willie Wood, Paul Foster and Graham Robertson.

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The team effort should have folded in a heap but the opposite happened and they set forth on a magnificent fight-back and by end 15 they had cut the deficit to ten shots.

East Lothian went on the attack on three of the four rinks, and under the command of skips Derek Oliver, Scott Kennedy and Alex Marshall they served up a phenomenal effort that propelled them into the lead with the finishing line looming.

Oliver had a twist in his tail as he asked for more from Colin Cook, Dougie Berwick and Jamie Higgins who helped him transform a 12-6 deficit against Scott Bishop into a 27-12 lead.

They wrapped up an inspiring 27-14 victory that was supported by Kennedy, also coming from 12-6, down to win eight of the remaining ten ends and skip Lessel Middler, Ross Thomson and Mark Johnston to a 22-15 win over Robert Murphy.

Five-times World Singles champion Marshall gradually moved up the gears from a slow start to skip Mal Higgenbotham, Stevie Thomson and Andrew Jeffrey to a 19-11 win over Jim McLarrie.

Meanwhile, team captain James Hogg and his front three of John Stevenson, David Oliver and Brian Wyllie were always against the collar in suffering a 22-13 defeat from David Mungall.

In the other semi-final, Aberdeen beat Galleon 95-62 at Cumbernauld.