HADDINGTON Bowling Club are once again celebrating knockout success as they won the East Lothian Top 5 for the second successive year.

East Linton tackled EL Co-op in the first semi-final at Prestongrange as they looked to add to their impressive wins earlier in the competition.

However, it was to be the EL Co-op side first to register a win, as Steven Mackie dispatched Ewan Leith 21-8.

Robbie Shields would leave his side needing just one more win as he closed out his match against John Mclean 21-12.

However, the game remained firmly in the balance as the East Linton trio of Calvert Allison, Colin Murdoch and Stevie Kerr all held leads in their ties.

Kerr held a healthy lead against Dean Riva but the EL Co-op man changed the game, outscoring Kerr 11 ends to two and passed his opponent to lead 20-17.

Kerr responded with a three of his own on end 22 to leave the tie in the balance.

But it was to be in vain, as Riva secured the one shot and the third win needed to see his side progress to the final.

Haddington took on Prestongrange at Castlepark in the other semi-final.

Stuart Thomson was the first to record a win for Haddington in his 21-13 defeat of Ross Marwick.

Gordon Hunter followed suit with a 21-19 win over Sam Gray.

Alister Kennedy secured the Hi Hi’s place in the final with a 21-19 victory over Steven Greenan.

Final

Castlepark hosted the afternoon final on one of the hottest days of the year, as EL Co-op made the short journey along from Prestongrange.

The Hi Hi’s took advantage of a blistering start.

Colin Dick registered the first win, 21-8 over Dean Riva, while Gordon Hunter led Danny Stevenson 18-7, Alister Kennedy was 17-13 up over Steven Mackie, Mal Higgenbotham led Steven White 19-8, and Stuart Thomson held a 16-15 advantage over Robbie Shields.

The tie looked all but over come 3pm, but the quick pace and tricky green always meant a change in the game was likely – and so it proved.

White, Stevenson and Mackie all drastically reduced the arrears in their games, while Shields found himself in front against Thomson (17-19) and really put pressure on the Haddington side.

Shields holding one shot and possible measure for two, Thomson turned the jack five foot through and found himself lying three measuring for four.

Umpire George Thomson was called into action and turned out the fourth bowl for the Haddington bowler to bring the Hi Hi’s within one win of the title.

They would not have to wait much longer, as 30 seconds later, Hunter ran Stevenson’s bowl from the green to secure the third win and the 2022 Top 5 trophy for Haddington Bowling Club.

East Lothian Co-op

Meanwhile, East Lothian Co-op hosted its second successive Matt Purdie fixture last Monday, as East Lothian welcomed West Fife to Tranent.

The seniors were looking for back-to-back wins and set the pace in their group section for the tournament.

Selectors were forced into several changes but were buoyed by the return of East Linton’s George Cowan to the fold.

West Fife only trailed on two rinks by the halfway mark; however, these rinks were to prove crucial in the overall make up of the tie.

Andy Burt saw his individual battle over the line 16-14, but Ali Russel could not recover from trailing by seven at the halfway point, eventually losing out 16-12.

An excellent last two ends on the West Fife rink against Tommy Young saw Stuart Pagan reply with a 22-17 win.

The tie would be settled on the other two rinks, Billy Cormack skipping his rink to a 27-5 victory, losing just four ends in the process.

Not to be outdone, local skip Willie Auld skipped his rink to a 26-3 victory, losing just three singles in the process.

Leagues

Meanwhile, in Division One of the county leagues, Port Seton remain at the very top of the East Lothian bowls structure, holding a five-point lead over second-placed Haddington.

An impressive 8-0 victory away at West Barns keeps them on top with six games remaining.

Castlepark find themselves rooted to the foot of the table and head to the league leaders in a tough assignment tomorrow (Friday).

Haddington head to East Linton as they look to keep the pressure on Port Seton.

Third-placed Tranent made the short journey to EL Co-op for the second Tranent derby of the season.

Ormiston host West Barns as they look to halt their fall in the table.

Meanwhile, in Division Two, Winton suffered a 6-2 defeat at the hands of fourth placed Port Seton A last Friday.

Aberlady were the first to capitalise as they won 6-2 away at EL Co-op A.

Third-placed Tranent A also took advantage as they claimed maximum points against Prestongrange A.

Tranent A head to the league leaders this week as they look to reduce the 15-point deficit in search of promotion.

Aberlady welcome fourth-placed Port Seton A in the second fixture in the top-four battle.

Longniddry look too far adrift at the bottom of Division Two, with East Linton A and EL Co-op A looking to avoid the trapdoor to the third tier.

In Division Three, North Berwick and Gifford look to have all but sealed promotion to Division Two with six games remaining. The sides lead third-placed Cockburnspath by 15 and 13 points respectively.

North Berwick sealed a 7-1 victory against Castlepark A last Friday, while Gifford secured a 5-3 win against Haddington A.

Following East Lothian Labour Club’s withdrawal from the league, Macmerry A and Castlepark A appear to be the teams looking to avoid relegation this season.

Macmerry A face third-placed Cockburnspath this week, while Castlepark A host Dunbar A.

The top two both face away games this week: North Berwick head to Haddington A and Gifford visit Stenton as they look to take another step closer to Division Two.

Finally, in Division Four, Athelstaneford remain the league leaders despite a 6-2 loss at the hands of Aberlady A last week.

Second-placed Gullane and third-placed Port Seton B remain eight points behind.

Haddington B and Prestongrange C remain at the foot of the table and both face sides in the top three as they take on Port Seton B and Athelstaneford respectively.

Gullane host fourth-placed Pathhead in a fixture that may reshape the top four next week.