Bowls: Bainfield hit the top after battling win

They occupy the lofty position by shot margin and were helped by West Lothian IBC’s surprise 78-66 win over East Lothian at Livingston, a result that dropped the previous leaders down to third place.

Mandy O’Donnell’s presence in Cyprus as part of the Scotland team in the Atlantic Rim Championships meant she was again an absentee in a Bainfield line-up headed by skips Isa Wilson, Anna Anderson, Theresa Blair and Kathryn O’Donnell.

It could be argued that Bainfield, with home carpet advantage, made heavy weather of defeating a Tweedbank team yet to register a single point as they only managed one winning rink in the shape of a splendid 19-shot success for Wilson.

Wilson certainly saved the day and won the points for Bainfield when skipping Dorothy Hunter, Jeanette Crawford and Sheila Grigor to a 35-16 score over Ella Brydon.

The rink summoned up a 7 at the third end and a 5 at the 21st end to seal the win.

Theresa Blair shaped up as winner when conjuring up a magic conversion on end 18 to card a 4 and skip Susan Brown, Dorothy Barclay and Kathleen Barr into an 18-13 lead but disappointingly, they slipped to a 21-20 defeat from Pat Houston.

Anna Anderson also came close to a win, having recovered from 11-3 down to skip Aimee Robertson, Lily Murray and Kate McVey into a 16-13 lead. Alas, they dropped 3 at the last to finish all square at 16-16 with Marie Todd.

Kathryn O’Donnell and her rink of Eleanor Campbell, Ann Matthew and Susan Allan were always against the collar in a 22-15 defeat from Jackie Ormiston.

In other matches, Portobello produced a confident display to score a commanding 102-53 win at home to Teviotdale, leaving both clubs on the same points mark as East Lothian but with poorer shot margin banks, while West Lothian ladies produced an exciting display at home to beat East Lothian 78-66.