Bowls: West Lothian scrape through by the skin of their teeth

West Lothian were expected to finish top of the East Section of the Cities & Counties Championship for the Andrew Hamilton Trophy, but only qualified in second place by the skin of their teeth following a shock 119-111 defeat from Stirling County East at Carron & Carronshore.

Everything was going sweetly for West Lothian as they made a strong start on away territory to charge into a 51-24 lead after completion of the first seven-end phase but the situation turned sour as they took their foot off the accelerator much too prematurely.

Stirling East – who had only managed to win one of their previous six games in the section – can never be treated lightly, hit back to capture the second phase 48-28 before taking the third 47-32.