Bowls: West End pull off shock to knock out Carrick Knowe

WEST END caused a major upset in last night's second round of the Edinburgh Top Ten Bowls Championship when knocking out defending champions Carrick Knowe on shot margin after a 4-4 share of the points.

Colin Mitchell did his bit for the holders, the former Scotland captain delivering a 21-12 home win over Donny Gilbertson in the singles, which added to the other home 22-13 victory for Alan Poole, who skipped Kevin Tennant, Craig Aitken and Graham Pringle over Keith Gellaitry, Peter Grib, Ian Farquharson and Robert Trainer in the fours.

In West End's home leg, Graham Hockaday and Murray Baillie winged their way to a spectacular 28-8 win over John Mitchell and Darren Hush in the pairs.

Duncan McLaren then skipped Ray Dorans and Neil McRae to a 18-11 home win in the triples.

Slateford were in fine form to score a battling 6-2 win over Pilrig and their main driving force was Robert Marshall, who proved too hot for David Poole.

Marshall broke from 7-7 to 13-7 with a run of 2, 1, 1, 2 and also had Poole in his 17-8 grip before the visitor showed typical fight by closing to 20-16.

Scott Brunton blazed a 10-2 trail in the fours then when pressured at 13-10, after losing a 6, he kicked on to skip Michael Fraser, Louis Beaton and John Ramsay to an 18-11 win that gave Slateford full points at home.

The form book suggested Pilrig would do much better at home but their strong pairs partnership of Gavin Smith and Darren McKenny failed to cash in on a 13-8 lead and had to settle for a meagre 14-13 win over a bold Rab Stewart and Gordon Ramsay.

Slateford clinched a clear result when Andrew Ramsay skipped Dougie Martin and Ronnie Ramsay to an 11-10 win having trailed 10-2 at one stage against Darren McCardle, Steven Stewart and Scott Rogers.

Elsewhere, recent champions Sighthill scored a good 6-2 win over Bainfield, Tanfield crushed Goldenacre 8-0 while Wardie surprised Gorgie Mills 5-3.

Close-fought affairs decided on shot margin saw Northern defeat Corstorphine and Dudley beat Parkside. Queensberry and Craigentinny didn't declare a result.

IN last night's second round of the West Lothian Top Ten, Linlithgow won 6-2 to end the reign of defending champions Bathgate. Winchburgh, Buchan Park, Kirkliston, Harthill, Broxburn, West Calder and Queensferry also progressed.