Bowls: West Lothian begin title defence with victory

PREMIER Division champions West Lothian got the defence of their Jack High Insurance National League title off to a winning start at Inveralmond against East Lothian, with an 85-69 win.

However, it’s last year’s beaten finalists Falkirk who sit in pole position of Section A, one shot ahead of their rivals after they returned from Coatbridge with an 87-70 win while Bainfield also got off to a positive start defeating Midlothian 78-66.

In Section B, Perth lead the standings by 15 shots ahead of second placed Aberdeen. Perth chalked up the biggest Premier win of the day with a 96-69 win over Alloa while Aberdeen were surprise 79-64 winners over Lanarkshire, with Gary Forbes, Stevie Thompson and Mike Stephen turning in winning scorecards and only Kevin Pirie missing out in their 79-64 home win. Meanwhile in Paisley the host club’s match against Blantyre finished all square, 77-77.

Turriff, Dundee, Tweedbank, Fintry, Inverclyde and Prestwick are all in pole position in the six Division 1 sections.