Summer League: Turnhouse aim to keep up 100% record

Bruntsfield's Douglas Livingstone knows they are in for tough examination when they face Duddingston. Pic: TSPL

Moray Hanson’s team made it 10 wins out of 10 with victory at the Merchants and now have a home tie against Craigmillar Park in the last eight.

“After narrowly getting beat in the semi-final last year by the eventual winners (Royal Burgess), we are hoping to build on that experience,” said Hanson. “Our 100 per cent record in the section was a tremendous achievement and I don’t think it has been done by the club before, so great credit is due to all of those involved.

“Like all the other teams who have qualified, Craigmillar Park are obviously a very good team so we are expecting a tough game but looking forward to it very much.”

Duddingston, last year’s beaten finalists, face a trip to 2014 winners Bruntsfield Links.

Bruntsfield Links manager Douglas Livingstone said: “We are delighted to win a tough section and thereby gain home advantage against Duddingston in the quarter finals.

“A great team effort from a squad with a blend of young and old in it.

“We now face an tough tie against Duddingston who are one of the strongest teams in the league.

“Having played against them several times over the years I know the make up of their own squad fairly well and it should be great game.

“Our own course is in excellent condition and we hope to get a big support along on the night.”

Duddingston team manager Alan Banks said: “We are delighted to have qualified for the knockout stages, especially given the tough group we were in.

“Longniddry have been very strong this year but, if you look at all the other teams, only one managed an away victory which was ourselves down at Silverknowes.

“We now face a very tough match down at Bruntsfield on Thursday . They are a very strong team and with home advantage they will be clear favourites, but our team know the course well and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Royal Burgess, bidding to land the title for an eighth time in nine years, travel to Ratho Park.

“While we were obviously disappointed at our mixed form and fortune in the league section, losing twice to a very good Turnhouse team and then away at Royal Musselburgh and Prestonfield, this is exactly what happened last year and we still won through in the end,” Royal Burgess team manager Derek MacGillivray.

“Our defeat at Prestonfield was down to a very good performance by the home team, although we did have four players competing in the Scottish Amateur at Royal Aberdeen that evening.

“We obviously hope that that experience, led by Malcolm Pennycott’s excellent quarter- final appearance, will strengthen our chances of overcoming a very strong Ratho outfit, undefeated at home in their league section.

“In addition, we would hope that both similarity to The Burgess and familiarity with the Ratho course will help to neutralise home advantage to some extent.”

Longniddry, who lost at home to Royal Burgess in the quarter-finals 12 months ago, entertain Baberton.

“We are absolutely delighted to have qualified from our group because at the start of the campaign most people would have expected Longniddry and West Linton to qualify based on last year’s performances,” said Baberton team manager Jim Downie.

“To have won twice away from home and dropped only one point at home and finish runneds up just shows how tough a group it was.

“Although everyone would have wished for a home draw in the last eight, it wasn’t to be. Longniddry away is a very tough tie and one where I will need everyone playing at their best to get a result. In golf you just never know, though.”