East Lothian set sights on record sixth Scottish Cup

East LOTHIAN will put the disappointment of a weak Premier League campaign behind them if successful in bringing the Scottish Cup back to Meadowmill – and they are firm favourites to do so for a record sixth time against Abbeyview in tomorrow’s final at Aberdeen.

Wins over Ardrossan, Turriff, Bainfield, West Lothian, and Midlothian have built up a terrific momentum and a tremendous form-line, with the last three victories chalked up against fellow Premier League opposition.

Although league form often counts for nothing in the melting pot of a cup final, it is interesting to note that East Lothian’s 99-56 win over Ardrossan in the prelim round is in contrast to Abbeyview’s heavy 
111-62 defeat from the Ayrshire team in the recent promotion play-offs.

East Lothian travel to Aberdeen with massive strength in their ranks, and especially so at the four back-ends with Willie Wood MBE/Alex Marshall MBE, Graham Robertson/Derek Oliver, Jamie Higgins/Scott Kennedy, and Andrew Jeffrey/Billy Mellors simply awesome in reputation.

Their respective front-ends feature a host of battle-hardened campaigners in the shape of Mark Johnston/Dougie Berwick, Ewan Fallen/Stuart Thomson, Alan Young/Gary Darling, and Gary Muir/Jamie Gordon.

It’s a spectacular mountain of talent and reputation that Abbeyview are attempting to conquer, but the Dunfermline-based club do have strong players at their helms in the shape of Stuart Pagan, Paul Brown, Kevin Bald, and Jim Maguire.

The rinks draw for the final has been made and features Marshall v Pagan, Oliver v Brown, Kennedy v Bald, and Mellors v Maguire. Play commences at 12pm.

Meanwhile, Falkirk IBC play host to the final of the Ladies Scottish Cup (12pm), with the head-to-head featuring Premier League champions Arbroath against Division 1E runners-up Coatbridge.

Arbroath stopped the great cup run of Bainfield in the semi-finals, while Coatbridge progressed at the expense of Auchinleck.

The draw reads: L Furye v J Bray; T McKay v J Kyle; E 
Anderson v L Welsh; C Ruxton v C Condy.

The domestic scene at 
Midlothian IBC saw defending champion Stacey Laidlaw retain the ladies Junior Singles title with a storming 21-6 
victory over fellow junior cap Kelly McDougall in the final.

The gents version of the Junior Singles produced a cracking encounter in the final, with Danny McDougall picking up the pace from 14-14 to beat Scott Runciman, 21-15.