Neil Speirs back to boost West Lothian's Scottish Cup hopes
Commonwealth Games 2014 gold-medal winner Neil Speirs returns from a three-month lay-off to take his place in the West Lothian IBC line-up that faces Alloa at Dunfermline venue Abbeyview in tomorrow's second-round action of the indoor bowls Scottish Cup.
Speirs, 38, who has recovered from a leg injury, starts in the position of third rather than his natural place at skip.
Grant Knox, a gold-medal winner at the 1986 Games, has re-emerged from the shadows this season and takes his place in the WL team for a match which pits the Clackmannanshire outfit – recently relegated from the Premier League – against their promoted opponents.
West Lothian:
Rink 1: Scott Logan, Ian Drysdale, Neil Speirs, Thomas Mann.
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Rink 2: Richard Mark, Raymond Logan, Craig Moss, Mark Allison.
Rink 3: Bryan Cooper, Grant Knox, Stuart Johnston, James Speirs.
Rink 4: Cameron Greer, Blair Mackie, Des Hagart, Calum Logan.
Midlothian IBC last etched their name on the cup back in 2004 but have a team strong enough to bridge that gap. However, their second-round test is a tough one in the shape of fellow top-flight club Lanarkshire. However, the presence of world stage stars Ronnie Duncan, Colin Walker, David Peacock and Graeme Archer gives a powerful look to the Midlothian team.
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Hide AdMidlothian:
Rink 1: Andrew Caldwell, John Stevenson, Lindsay Plenderleith, Colin Walker.
Rink 2: Ian Forbes, Ian Fleming, Scott Briggs, David Peacock.
Rink 3: Jamie Macnab, Jim Cullen, AJ Knight, Billy Peacock.
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Hide AdRink 4: Scott Runciman, Craig Hodge, Ronnie Duncan, Graeme Archer.
Bainfield would love to emulate their title triumph of 2008 and their prospects of making it into the quarter- finals look reasonably good.
Elgin provide the opposition for the Edinburgh outfit at Arbroath and the Division 1 team, who finished second to West Lothian in their league, will be no pushovers.
Bainfield have yet to confirm their line-up.