Bowls: Weir does a rain dance as he launches Tait Trophy bid

Weir, nine times champion of W&G, coped best with the prevailing conditions to set up leads of 9-4 and 12-6 then produced a winning double at  19-18 to win.

First played for in 1888 the Tait Trophy is the blue riband trophy of the Edinburgh & Leith bowls association, contested by the current season club champions but concerns are being expressed that widespread failure to participate is demeaning the great event.

It is thought that five clubs failed to show in last night’s prelim round and sadly that number could increase come Friday night’s first round with several member clubs failing to enter in the first place.

Last night’s rainfall in the Capital also wreaked havoc on the prelim round ties but several survived including Queensberry v London Road Foundry at Beechwood and Bainfield v Liberton at Blackhall.

Scott Mackintosh is a high-profile carrier of the LRF  banner so it is a sensational result that the 13 times club champions, two times Tait  finalist, and 2009 national  singles runner up crashed out to a 21-2 defeat from Tam Ebbs.

Ebbs, a two times champion of Queensberry, took to the conditions like a duck to water and, by opting to play a short jack length, found he had Mackintosh all at sea.

Bainfield champion Craig Paterson encountered atrocious weather conditions at Blackhall but beat 59-year-old opponent Alan Mountford, 21-4.

Gavin Smith of Pilrig led Brian Duffus of Tramways  13-11 when play was abandoned at Goldenacre while, in similar circumstances, Andy Sneddon of Tanfield leads Russell Gray of Dudley, 8-7 at Dean. Play resumes on Thursday.