WL hope to make home comforts count

West Lothian gents have yet to win a home match at Inveralmond Stadium this season, but opportunity knocks for a third time lucky triumph with this Saturday’s visit of foot of the table Elgin to Livingston.

Elgin’s four opening defeats in a row include away losses at Aberdeen and West of Scotland suggesting that if finding their mojo a starstudded West Lothian can bag two points vital to them avoiding being sucked deeper into the relegation zone.

The home team’s bid to make it two wins out of five is boosted by the return of former international star George Sneddon who is selected at lead in preference to Connor McKendrick who joins his brother Nathan on the reserve bench and in company with Duncan Lawson, Grant Knox, Blair Mackie and Des Hagart.

Balbardie gents dwell in the relegation zone of Division 1A with three points from four games but home environment advantage can spark a revival of fortunes, albeit this weekend’s opposition comes in the shape of joint top Cumbernauld.

West Lothian ladies are away to Abbeyview in a crucial foot of the table clash in the East Premier Division while their Balbardie counterparts have the opportunity to stay competitive in Division 1 East as they visit a vulnerable Tweedbank.

West Lothian Seniors impressed with a 62-45 win over Bainfeld at Livingston while Balbardie Seniors scored a good 81-53 home win over Tweedbank.

Last weekend’s play-down action of the Gents’ Scottish Fours saw West Lothian’s ace rink of Bryan Cooper, Dougie Mitchell, James Speirs and Neil Speirs sent packing by a 19-15 first round defeat at the hands of Stirling.

There was no joy either for the Balbardie rink of Morris McCartney, Adam Gilliland, Tam Stanton and Kenny Martin who made a 24-11 exit to Falkirk in the preliminary round.

Play in the Ladies’ Scottish Fours saw the WL rink of Sandra Purdie, Alison Brown, Jean Brown and Jennifer Sneddon edge a 17-16 thriller over Teviotdale then crash out in the second round to a 28-7 defeat from Midlothian.

Balbardie started well with a 26-4 win over Allander but the rink of Betty Johnston, Kim Ross, Sharon Leitch, and Lorraine Craig lost 2421 battle to East Fife in the second round.

Lor raine Craig and Wendy Purdie are the West Lothian representatives named in the 40 strong Ladies’ International Trial match which is being staged at Arbroath on Sunday, December 2.