Golf: Disappointing loss gives Lothians a selection headache

LOTHIANS suffered a disappointing home defeat in their annual friendly against Northumberland at Newbattle - 12 months after beating the same opponents at Ponteland.

Mark Timmins' team lost 12-6, with the damage being done in the afternoon singles session. In the morning foursomes, Lothians had fought back from early losses to snatch a 3-3 draw - the combinations of Stuart Smith/Dean Muir, Sean McGarvey/Malcolm Campbell and Stephen Simants/Gary Corrigan delivering the goods for Timmins.

But hopes of holding the bragging rights for another year were undone by a poor start to the singles session as Lothians champion Allyn Dick, Steven Armstrong and Grant Forrest all suffered defeats.

Smith, the four-times Lothians champion from Duddingston, and Swanston New left-hander Campbell both won their matches to emerge as double victors on the day.

But, with Keith Reilly providing the only other Lothians singles success, Timmins and his fellow selectors appear to have a tough task ahead of the Scottish Area Team title at Prestwick.

"The afternoon losses in the top three matches proved too difficult a challenge to overcome," admitted selection convenor Tom Gowan.