Bowls: Mitchell spearheads Carrick Knowe bid

Colin Mitchell's continuing good form in singles play inspired Carrick Knowe to a 6-2 win over Northern in last night's second round action of The Edinburgh Top Ten bowls tournament.

Mitchell played the spearhead role in the away leg and, although nominating Northern as one of his favourite venues, the former captain of Scotland looked to have a tough task ahead of him in the shape of 1992 Tait Trophy champion David Scott. The 37-year-old 14-times Carrick Knowe champion has five Tait Trophy titles to his name, however, and the confidence those successes breed was in evidence as Mitchell stormed to a 21-6 win in just 13 ends.

Carrick Knowe were also successful in the Fours at the Northern with Richard Tough progressing from 10-8 to 13-8 and skipping Craig Aitken, Graham Pringle and Ian McKenna to a 13-9 win over Gary Largue, John Young, Ian Miller and Hugh Hilson.

Northern made an away mark at Carrick Knowe though with George Prentice and Gordon Wilson in the Pairs carding a six to cross 12-9 then pushing on to score an 18-14 win over Kevin Tenant and James Hogg.

But the final result was never in doubt with Alan Poole flying into a 17-1 lead en route to skipping John Mitchell Jnr and Johnny Priestley to a 23-6 win over Jim Prentice, MJ Burns and Mike Burns.

Paul O'Donnell is fresh from his fifth championship success at Bainfield and the 24-year-old junior cap continued on a high by dishing out a heavy 21-8 defeat in 20 ends to bowls legend David McGill of Braid. O'Donnell was on home territory and his success was complemented in the Fours by Brian Stoddart who included two fives and a seven as he skipped Adam Brock, Craig Paterson and Paul Rintoul to a 29-7 win over Ian Laing.

Bainfield were also rampant on their away leg with Steven Pilley and Gary Purdie winning 17-12 in the Pairs and Paul Miller skipping Stewart Clark and Colin Gilchrist to a 27-4 success in the Triples.

Craigentinny cleared a stiff hurdle in their 6-2 win over Hillside and Davy Brown set the scene with a 21-13 away win over local hero Gary Muir. Brown made telling space from 12-10 to 17-10 and went on to defeat the District 11 junior singles champion in 23 ends.

BJ Smith hit back for Hillside having added 3, 1, 3 to lead 13-9 then skipping Martin Reid, Dougie Robinson and Peter Brown to a 13-12 win over 36-year-old Ian Paterson.

Craigentinny dominated their home leg, however, with Willie McDonald skipping Kevin Hunter and Kevin McFarlane to a spectacular 25-4 win over Brian Irving in the Triples while Gordon Bold and Andy Jeffrey beat Paul Grant and John Simpson 13-9 in the Pairs.

Brian Duffus of Tramways edged Robert Marshall of Slateford 21-18 in the Singles and George Richardson, John Stevens and George Czemartin were good 16-7 away winners in the Triples to bring the defending champions under pressure.

But the holders escaped on shot margin thanks to Andrew Ramsay winning 20-11 in the Fours and his brothers Ronnie and Gordon enjoying a 24-8 success in the Pairs.