City stars to the fore in junior championship

Watson, already an experienced campaigner under both codes of the sport, opens in the prelim round tomorrow against his counterpart, Chris Stein from East Fife, and competes in a section that includes the Junior Club Champions of Portobello, Balbardie, Midlothian, East Lothian, and West Lothian.

The challenge from the Capital is particularly strong with the Portobello banner being carried by Josh Spalding who has already made an impression at national level albeit under the outdoor code as the 2011 junior singles finalist.

Spalding shows promise of developing into a special talent and gets an immediate chance to emphasise that in his prelim round as his opposition comes in the tough shape of defending champion Martin McCalley of Falkirk.

The West Lothian IBC challenge is in the capable hands of 2011 national champion Calum Logan and the experienced holder of nine junior caps goes into a first round battle against Ivan Houghton, the current champion of Falkirk.

David Peacock brought the title back to Midlothian in 1994 and the current challenger from the Dalkeith stadium bidding to bridge the long gap is Mark Yuill who opens in the prelim round against dark horse Craig Kirkwood from Balbardie.

East Lothian have enjoyed three title celebrations via Wayne Hogg in 2004 and 2005, then Derek Oliver in 2006 and their latest challenge lies in the talented hands of teenager Kieran Simants, who opens against Scott Runcie of Aberdeen in the first round proper.

East Kilbride is the other venue involved in hosting a field that is 46 strong and play at both locations continues on Sunday with sessions at 12 noon and 3pm.

The ladies’ version of the Scottish Junior Singles takes place on Sunday at Abbeyview and East Kilbride and the draw has produced an Edinburgh derby clash between the champions of Bainfield and Portobello.

It’s a 10am prelim at Abbeyview with the head-to-head featuring Hazel Crombie against junior cap Alison McDougall, and the same session involves East Lothian, West Lothian, and Midlothian.

Full cap Emma Brown carries the hopes of East Lothian and she opens against Joanne Stewart of Turriff, while 16 times junior cap Lisa Barrett carries the West Lothian banner into action against Marjory McDougall of Garioch.

Stacey Laidlaw was a star turn for the Midlothian banner in several events last season and the winner of ten junior caps will hope to deliver on that promise, starting against Ailsa Robertson of Dundee.

Meanwhile, two struggling teams – Midlothian and East Lothian – clash in the A section of the gents’ Premier League at Dalkeith tomorrow and the home team go into battle without Ronnie Duncan and Drew Pearson.

Team manager Frank Gray has opted to recall Scott Matthews and gives a debut to Davy Smart who hails from Australia, while Lindsey Plenderleith moves up to third for David Peacock in a positional switch with Jamie Aitken.