THE senior side from East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club booked their place in the semi-final of the Senior Scottish Cup with a formbook triumph over Abbeyview.

However, they found themselves being strongly challenged before getting over the finishing line with an eight-shot victory in last Wednesday’s quarter-final action at Headwell IBC in Dunfermline.

A big win for Willie Wood (+17) plus draws for Tom Young and Peter Laidlaw just tipped the match scales for the Garden County ‘auld yins’, with Jock Brodie losing, albeit by a single-digit margin. “Whilst we were the leaders on the major scoreboard for most of the match and reached a high of 20 shots up, we were down to a low as four with just a couple of ends to play, so we were hard pressed to clinch a 56-48 victory,” reflected team convenor John P Hamilton.

The side stepped up their bid for cup glory on Wednesday when they made the long trip to Dundee IBC to tackle Elgin.

It was a last-four clash that looked very winnable going by the formbook, even despite missing the invaluable services of the iconic figure of Willie Wood. On the international stage, East Lothian IBC star Emma Brown was part of a Scotland Ladies side that failed in their bid to halt England’s run of five title wins in the British Isles Home International series, played at Stanley IBC in County Durham at the weekend.

Scotland only managed one win in the series and had to settle for third place behind winners England, runners-up Wales and ahead of foot-of-the-table Ireland.

Once again, Brown acquitted herself very well, playing lead in the rink skipped by Julie Forrest and they managed two wins out of three during the series. It’s the turn of the men this weekend – with the matches due to start yesterday (Thursday) and continuing until tomorrow (Saturday) – with Willie Wood, Scott Kennedy, Billy Mellors, Alex Marshall, Derek Oliver, Jamie Higgins and Graham Robertson all set to make the trip to Stanley IBC to join their colleagues from elsewhere in the Scotland team.

Robertson continues to enjoy a fabulously successful career, having 81 caps currently to his name, and in retaining the confidence of the selectors to make it 84 is named as team captain for a third successive series.

Wood adds further to his phenomenal legendary status, having made his debut in 1972, and with three more caps in the offing the 75-year-old will move onto the 87 mark.

Mellors is a recall, having last played in 2008, and has chalked up an impressive 36 caps.

Marshall is currently on a cap mark of 69, having made his debut in 1989, while Kennedy, with 39, is an ever-present since 2001.

Oliver has been a constant since his debut in 2009 and will move his cap mark to 18.

Meanwhile, Higgins is set to make his full cap debut after receiving a late call-up to the team, following the withdrawals of former Garden County team-mates Paul Foster and Wayne Hogg, along with Prestwick’s Paul Boyd from the originally selected 26-man squad.

“It’s an exciting prospect and great honour to play for your country in the theatre of international competition and I am really looking forward to making my debut,” said Higgins of his selection.

Higgins was set to make his debut yesterday morning when Scotland were to open the series against Wales, before playing Ireland today at 3pm.

The series comes to what will hopefully be an exciting climax tomorrow afternoon, with an always eagerly awaited clash with defending champions England.

The action in the Jock Brodie Senior Challenge Cup, sponsored by Norman T Craig and Co-operative Funeral & Monumental Services, reconvened last Wednesday and East Lothian B had to settle for 4-4 share of the spoils with Berwickshire.

In the other clash played, defending champions Perth were in unstoppable form and ran out 8-0 winners from their clash against Falkirk.

The action continued on Wednesday, when East Lothian B faced Headwell, while Berwickshire tackled West Lothian.

Meanwhile, there is Central District Top Six semi-final action at East Lothian IBC on Sunday from 2pm.

Local hopes in the event will be carried by Davie McLeod in the singles; Arthur Duncan and Alastair Russell in the pairs; and Kenny Boyd, Jim McLeod and Ronnie Douglas in the triples.

East Lothian tackle Tweedbank, while the other clash features Bainfield against Perth. Congratulations go to Calum Darling, who has been selected to take part in a Scotland Under-18 trial match in early April.

The youth side from East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club rounded off their East of Scotland Junior League campaign with a disappointing 4-3 points defeat against Bainfield on Saturday morning.

The rinks skipped by Calvert Allison and Calum Darling both suffered damaging defeats, but Dean Riva somewhat saved the Garden County young brigade blushes when he skipped his rink to a well-deserved five-shot victory.

There was also little joy for the East Lothian contingent at Sunday’s playdown action in the Scottish Youth Pair and Triples Championships at Midlothian IBC.

The strong partnership of Calvert Allison and Calum Darling lost out to eventual winners Bainfield, while the triple of Lewis Betts, Craig MacKintosh and Dean Riva suffered defeat against Midlothian.

Bowling members of Cockenzie & Port Seton Bowling Club are reminded that their AGM will take place on Tuesday at 7pm.

Finally, all outdoor club secretaries are reminded that the AGM of East Lothian Bowling Association takes places at Haddington BC on Wednesday (from 7pm).

Two representatives from each affiliated club are formally requested to attend the meeting.