Bowls: Shock defeat leaves East Lothian in sweat

East Lothian face a battle to avoid a relegation play-off from Division B of the indoor bowls Premier League following a shock 76-72 defeat at home by Aberdeen.
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With two games to play, an automatic drop into Division 1 is not a threat with Dunfermline-based Abbeyview or Bainfield most likely to occupy that spot. However, EL, who still have a mathematical chance of catching leaders Falkirk in an incredibly tight section, are in bigger danger of finishing second bottom.

They have their destiny firmly in their own hands as this weekend’s penultimate fixture is away to Abbeyview while a home match against Bainfield follows.

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The league table after eight games reads: Falkirk 12pts (+45), Ayr 10pts (+45), Aberdeen 8pts (+26), East Lothian 8pts (+24), Bainfield 6pts (-71), Abbeyview 4pts (-69).

East Lothian’s 76-72 setback against Aberdeen came despite them being in the driving seat during early parts of the match.Derek Oliver skipped Mal Higgenbotham, Jamie Gordon and Jamie Higgins to a 14-shot victory but the home challenge was severely blunted by losses on the rinks skipped by Billy Mellors, Willie Wood MBE and Scott Kennedy.

Meanwhile, East Lothian ladies returned from Livingston with the 81-67 scalp of West Lothian, a result that clinched top qualifying honours in Division 1C of the national leagues.

Double-figure wins for the rinks skipped by Vyonne Veitch (+11) and Lauren Baillie (+10) were supported by a peel for Emma Logan with the only setback being a seven-shot defeat for Janet Fairnie.