Bowls: West Lothian get set for revenge mission against Blantyre in League Cup final clash

West LOTHIAN IBC renew their Cup rivalry with Blantyre this weekend with the star-studded Under-35 team from the Inveralmond stadium bidding to avenge the club’s dramatic single-shot defeat in the Scottish Cup final.

Blantyre provide the opposition in the final of the Scottish Under-35 League Cup at Auchinleck on Sunday (2pm) and while little is known of their line-up it is unlikely to enjoy the reputation of a West Lothian team populated by four international stars.

Neil Speirs, Calum Logan and just crowned club singles champions, Cameron Greer (Junior) and Thomas Mann are just part of the 16-strong line-up captained by James Speirs.

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Semi-final hero Jamie Gracie is an enforced absentee but the loss of him and junior cap Jenifer Richardson is covered by the return of Mann and the introduction of Liam Fairley. Meanwhile, East Lothian’s Graham Robertson is bidding to create a club record tonight when the holder of 78 international caps lines up against Dougie Berwick in the final of the Singles Championship at the Meadowmill indoor stadium.

Robertson has won the title on three occasions over the years and a fourth crown will see him out on his own in what is an ultra-competitive club.

Berwick entered the final with the scalp of former club and national champion Mark Johnston in the semi finals while Robertson beat fellow cap Derek Oliver who was national junior champion in 2006.

The ladies Singles is also down for decision with former champion Janet Fairnie facing Junior cap Dee Hoggan who defeated defending champion Norma Bauld in the semis. Fairnie progressed at the expense of Margaret Thomson.

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It’s a busy and exciting-looking programme with Jamie Blair and Kieran Simants doing battle for the gents Junior Singles title while full cap Emma Brown lines up against Kim Hoggan or Nicola Thomson in the ladies Junior Singles.

The final of the Seniors Singles features Arthur Duncan and Andrew Cross while Declan French and Calum Darling contest the final of the Youth Singles.