Bowls: In-form E&L keen to push for glory

Edinburgh & Leith are determined to continue on a high when their strong-going Hamilton Trophy team bid to clinch one of the two qualifying places when they tackle West Fife in the final match of the East section of the Cities & Counties bowling championship at Bainfield this afternoon.

The form book has swung in favour of E&L, especially with home environment advantages; however, West Fife did win their first three matches, including inflicting the only defeat so far on a star-studded West Lothian.

“We will certainly treat West Fife with respect and they do represent a real danger to us; however, we will be fired up for the challenge and it will help our cause if we attract a strong support that gets behind us,” said E&L team manager Willie Watson.

Watson continues to operate without Craigentinny star Ian Paterson, who is unavailable, and Paul Veitch, of Parkside, joins that category this weekend. And, for some reason, stalwart Alex Hurry is moved to the bench.

However, the return of Tanfield ace Andy Sneddon is a strong plus and he replaces Veitch at third to Paul O’Donnell, while the demise of Hurry allows his Parkside clubmate Robert Donaldson to return at third to Mal Higgenbotham.

West Lothian top the section table jointly with E&L and they field an unchanged team that travels with a favourite’s chance to tackle Stirling County East at Carron & Carronshore.

Midlothian – like West Fife – have an outside chance of making the top two, but first have to overcome a tough challenge against Borders, albeit on home territory at Polton. Top figures David Peacock, Colin Walker and Ronnie Duncan return to the fold.

E&L are going for four wins in a row when they complete their East section campaign in the Scottish Under-25 League Cup with a home game at Leith tomorrow (2pm) against Borders.