EAST Lothian have suffered a blow to their chances of making it through to the knockout stages of the Scottish Counties Championship for the Andrew Hamilton Trophy after losing away 128-110 to defending champions Edinburgh & Leith at Currie BC on Saturday.

Internationalist Derek Oliver was to serve up the only winning performance for East Lothian against the ‘Townies’ but the rinks skipped by Steven Morgan (-10), Scott Kennedy (-6), Alister Kennedy (-5), Billy Mellors (-4) and Brian Young (-4) all lost.

Going into tomorrow’s (Saturday) final round of fixtures in the highly competitive East section West Lothian lead the way on the 10-point mark and look odds-on favourites to win the section but the race for second place is wide open as East Lothian, Borders and Edinburgh & Leith all have eight points and an almost identical shot margin bank.

The good news for East Lothian is that Borders entertain Edinburgh & Leith in their final fixture, while they have home advantage over Stirling County East at West Barns.

The team news from the East Lothian camp is that regulars Willie Wood, Craig Valentine and John White all make welcome returns, while the magnitude of the task in hand has influenced the selectors to draft in the experienced duo of Angus Blair (Haddington) and John McCrorie (Tranent).

Calvert Allison, Mark Riding, Richard Black, Matt Osborne and Craig McLeod are the players moved to the reserve bench.

The team reads: B. Cormack (Mac), S. Greenan (P/G), S. Cochrane (ELCO), B. Young (Tra) skip. G. Blair (Hadd), J. White (Hadd), S. Morgan (C&PS), C. Valentine (C&PS) capt/skip. G. White (Aber), B. Dunleavey (Hadd), S. Dodds (Giff), A. Kennedy (W/B) skip. M. Greenan (P/G), J. Gordon (C&PS), W. W. Wood (Giff), S. Kennedy (W/B) skip. C. Johnston (Giff), G. Baillie (C&PS), A. O. Blair (Hadd), D. Oliver (C&PS) skip. R. Branley (C&PS), S. Johnston (Orm), J. McCrorie (Tra), B. Mellors (W/B) skip. Reserve pool: C. McLeod (Win), B. Galloway (Giff), M. Osborne (Tra), J. Higgins (Tra), C. Allison (E/L), M. Riding (Elph).

All players are requested to report at West Barns BC by no later than 1.30pm. Any player selected who is unable to play is requested to contact team admin officer Jamie Gordon on 07795 264449.

Meanwhile the county Under-25 brigade rounded off their qualifying campaign in the Scottish League Cup and finished on a severe downer after suffering a crushing 136-100 defeat from arch-rivals Midlothian at Loanhead Miners Welfare BC on Sunday.

The Garden County ‘young yins’ suffered defeats on five of the six rinks, with only Glenn Blair saving their blushes by grinding out a hard-fought peel. On the ladies’ international scene the talented Baillie sisters from Cockenzie & Port Seton BC, Leanne and Lauren, just missed out on adding a British Isles pairs title to their ever growing impressive CVs when the four-times Scottish champions lost out in the final to host nation Jersey at the Le Creux BC.

Meanwhile it’s congratulations to East Linton ace Grant Thomson after he was named in the 2014 Scotland junior men’s team that will compete for the British Home Junior International series at Ballymena BC in Northern Ireland in July.

Elsewhere, preparations are hotting up for the seniors to start their campaign for the Matt Purdie Trophy.

Squad to report to Haddington BC for a 10.15am start for the final practice game next Monday (June 30): George Gray, Billy Higgins, Tommy Moffat, Bob Martin, George McLeod, Dougie Kennedy, Tommy Young, Bobby Brunton, Kenny Boyd, Mike Hunter, Derek Malcolm, Jackie Greenwood, Banger Strang, John Hogg, Jim Hogg, Duncan Hogg, Alistair Russell, John Holmes, Bill Fotheringham, John Hamilton, Sandy Delaney, Bobby Scott, Stewart Fiztsimmons.

Convenor Andy Burt has a few ideas and headaches in store for the new campaign, which kicks off at the same venue on Monday, July 7, when all players in the squad of 23 are expected to attend by 10.20am for 11am start v Edinburgh and Leith.

If any players have holidays booked, have the details to hand for the selector.

This year’s draw is: July 7, Edinburgh & Leith at Haddington; July 14, Fife at Aberlady; July 21, West Lothian at Newbridge; July 28, Edinburgh & Leith at Hillside; August 4, Fife at Gallatown; August 11, West Lothian at West Barns; final August 18.

“Last year’s campaign was very poor but following the trial game, there appears to be a new vigour and comradery within the squad which I hope progresses to the green,” said convenor Andy Burt.

“The players have got to start well as we are playing every county’s best teams and it is important to be able to compete in all positions in all games. We’ve got to get the fighting spirit going this year and it’s up to the players to make it happen. We have some new faces in the squad and everyone seems to be up for the campaign.

“Spectators will be made welcome at all games and this is a big boost when people make an effort to come and watch.” Last Friday’s night action in Division 1 of the East Coast Carpets-sponsored East Lothian Leagues saw leaders Cockenzie & Port Seton suffer a 6-2 home defeat at the hands of East Linton – a result that moved the defending champions up to second in the table and only one point adrift of the Seasiders.

West Barns also occupy the 40-point mark following their hard-fought 4-4 draw at Castlepark, while Haddington kept in touch as they bounced back to winning ways in fine style, inflicting 8-0 misery on Gifford.

Tranent used home advantage to great effect as they swept to an 8-0 victory over neighbours EL-Coop, while relegation-zoned Prestongrange scored a much-needed 6-2 victory at foot-of-the-table Aberlady.

In tonight’s (Friday) Division 1 action leaders Port Seton will hope to return to winning ways when they make the short trip along the coast to tackle Aberlady. East Linton are on the road for the second consecutive week, this time visiting EL-Coop, while a cracking encounter looks in prospect at Haddington when they entertain Tranent.

West Barns will look to make home advantage count when Prestongrange come calling, while Gifford are boosted by the return of club legend Willie Wood ahead of their home clash with Castlepark.

Draw for Gifford Bowling & Sports Club Open Pairs, sponsored by R.Mills Roofing and Roughcasting, on Sunday: 10am: S. W. Thomson, J. Strang, D. Berwick, D. Riva, JD. Dickson, W. W. Wood, J. Johnston, B. Galloway, J. Campbell, Jas Grindlay, C. Lynn, Dirleton 3.

11am: C. Darling, M. Hamilton, B. Douglas, R. Skea, C. Bell, R. Wilson, Dirleton 2, B. Bisset, G. Peckham, Dirleton 1, S. Dodds, A. Baillie.

Draw for West Barns Senior Open Pairs, sponsored by Progress Driving School & Paws A Home from Home, on Tuesday: 9.20am: P. Lorimer, T. Taylor, W. Higg, I. Know, East Linton (2), J. Thomson, S. Fitzsimmons, D. Malcolm, P. Watson, J. Halliday, B. Mitchell, Dirleton (1), A. Young, Dirleton (3).

10.20am: V. Renwick, Dirleton (2), B. Higgins, J. P. Hamilton, T. Thomson, A. Currie, J. Smith, T. Hubbard, K. Boyd, East Linton (1), M. Hunter, M. Hamilton, J. Currie, J. Rolland.