Bowls: E&L defeat Lanarkshire for semi slot

The reward is a semi-final clash against Dumfriesshire at Kirkliston this afternoon (2pm).

Wins on four rinks – skipped by James Hogg, Paul O’Donnell, Robert Marshall, and Mal Higgenbotham – more than covered the defeat of Willie  McDonald and Billy Mellors.

The rink scores were: J Hogg 30, G Thomson 12; P O’Donnell 25 F Scobie 19; R Marshall 23, R Brown 17; M Higgenbotham 19, H Meikle 17; W Mellors 15, G Prentice 23; W McDonald 15, J McCann 24.

Meanwhile, West Lothian and Lanarkshire South have strong traditions of Hamilton Trophy  success down the years so their clash in this afternoon’s other semi-final at Glasgow venue Chryston & District has  promise of being a cracking  encounter.

Bathgate star David McCormick is back from holiday and available for selection, however, team manager Jimmy Mallon has opted to stay with the same line-up that impressed him against Ayrshire North in the quarter-finals.

The E&L challenge for the Under 25s Scottish League Cup steps up a further notch at  Lenzie tomorrow (2pm) with the six-rink team facing a  stiff semi-final test against  Lanarkshire.

n The headline bowls action in the Capital tonight is focused on the semi-finals of the Edinburgh Cup-sponsored by Specsavers Opticians of Shandwick Place and features Northern versus Pilrig and Willowbrae versus Summerside.

Pilrig have lost Gavin Smith and Scott Noble to the E&L match at Larbert but the  other three teams have no such problem.

It’s a hectic weekend for Northern, who travel to Brunstane tomorrow in the second round of the E&L Top Five Singles for the Ian McFarlane Trophy having fired on all five cylinders to beat Goldenacre earlier this week.

Wins for George Prentice, Andy Reid, Gordon Wilson Snr, Gary Harrison and Jamie Reid made it an easier-than-expected passage against a competitive Goldenacre line-up comprising Jim Hutchison, his sons Colin and Graham, plus Willie King and Mark Hogg.

Prentice set the scene with the 21-11 scalp of former Tait Trophy champion Colin Hutchison then Andy Reid crushed Jim Hutchison 21-8. A poor night for the popular Goldencre clan saw Graham lose 21-15 to Jamie Reid.

Gordon Wilson produced a 2, 2 finish to beat King 21-17 while Harrison triumphed 21-18 with a 3, 2 finish against Hogg.