Craigielaw came through a close encounter with Tantallon to claim the league points that sensationally meant they defended their league title, with Longniddry upsetting the odds to win their match at Musselburgh.

Musselburgh looked to have dealt with the greater challenges, winning at Longniddry and at Winterfield earlier in February. Many thought a home fixture against Longniddry would be a formality, but the reality was different with Scott Greig’s side falling agonizingly short.

But congratulations are due to Craigielaw, who put the dynamics of the day to one side, and fought hard for their win against opponents who had thwarted them once this season.

The first tie saw Angus Carrick & Guy Dalziel facing Fraser Skene & Nick Peoples. This one was close all the way, all square after nine, and Craigielaw finding a hot streak with birdies on 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15. But Tantallon didn’t let them get away, and the home team held on to their 1 hole lead only when Dalziel holed a trick 6-footer on 17. Finally, a closing birdie by the home pairing proved too much for the visitors.

The second tie saw Craig Davidson & Sean McGarvey pitted against Joe Lockie and Duncan Searle. This was another close tussle which went to the eighteenth with the match all square. Craigielaw found the green in regulation, while Tantallon were long. But a brilliant chip from Searle saved the par for Tantallon, and when Craigielaw 3-putted, the point went to the visitors.

Kenny Glen & Mark Watt were just too strong for Keith Mackenzie & Kevin Mitchell in the 3rd tie, running out 5/4 winners.

The fourth tie paired Scott Cunningham & Marc Reid against Gareth Pugh & Liam Brown. This one also went down the last with Craigielaw 1 up. And the home pair were not to be denied, Cunningham’s excellent second shot finding the putting surface, and Reid’s putt finshing close enough to be conceded, along with the match.

The final tie went to Tantallon’s Duncan Forbes & Michael Davidson, who beat Colin Fleming & Dave Nicholson 3/2.

So it was a tough day for Musselburgh, who had sat on top of the table for virtually the whole season, after beating Gullane in their opening fixture.

But winning their final match to claim the title proved to be one step too far, and Scott Greig’s men will now have to set their sights on the daunting challenge of a Cup quarter-final tie at Craigielaw in less than two weeks time.

In the day’s other Div 1 fixture, Winterfield saw off the challenge from Gullane. The win wasn’t enough to avoid relegation, but the plucky outfit leave the top flight having given a good account of themselves, and must be considered likely challengers to bounce back next term.

Craigielaw 3 Tantallon 2
Musselburgh 2 Longniddry 3
Winterfield 4 Gullane 1

Winterfield lost out in their clash at Longniddry today, leaving them far enough adrift in the Div 1 table that their relegation at the end of this season is now assured. The newly promoted team fought bravely all term, and indeed their 1st Div status seemed reasonably secure for a large part of the season – until Tantallon woke up to their dire situation in January, since which time they have recorded 4 wins. The challenge eventually became just too much for the Winterfield side, who have lost all five of their league matches since the turn of the year. An untimely slip from the third place they enjoyed in mid-December.

Nevertheless it has been a positive adventure for Graham Davidson’s men, who should return to the lower flight next season with refreshed confidence.

Meanwhile Tantallon took full advantage of their home match with relegated Haddington, recording a 4-1 win.

Elsewhere Craigielaw defeated Gullane, and in so doing they knocked their opponents out of the title race with just one match remaining. The title will now be fought out by Musselburgh and Craigielaw. Both teams are at home on the final day (next Sunday), and Musselburgh know the title will be theirs if they can overcome Longniddry, whilst Craigielaw have the task of taking on Tantallon, the team that fought hard to the end to defeat them in January at North Berwick West Links.

But there’s a sub-text to that battle for the title. The two rival teams, Longniddry and Tantallon, are not left with nothing to play for. They currently occupy 4th and 5th places in the table, separated by just a point, and as things stand Longniddry look set to retain their place in Div 1, whilst Tantallon face a play-off with Musselburgh Old, for a place in Div 1 next season.

But should Tantallon squeeze a point out of Craigielaw, and Longniddry are unable to match that feat at Musselburgh, they could switch places.

Tantallon 4 Haddington 1
Longniddry 4 Winterfield 1
Craigielaw 3½ Gullane 1½

Musselburgh took a giant step towards Winter League glory, with a win away at Winterfield – a win that takes them within touching distance of a first Winter League title. They aren’t in action next weekend, but with their nearest two rivals facing each other, they know that only one of them can move within a point with one match still to play.

And that heaps the pressure on Craigielaw and Gullane, who meet at Craigielaw next Sunday. Whichever team loses that encounter will drop out of the running for the league title.

And for their final match of the season, Musselburgh are at home to Longniddry. They will go into that match knowing a win will be good enough to claim the title, and lift the Matthew Black trophy.

And that comes after a long season of hard earned points and close matches against key rivals.

Elsewhere Craigielaw earned a win over relegation bound Haddington, to keep their slender hopes of the league title alive.

Musselburgh 5 Winterfield 0
Craigielaw 4 Haddington 1

Both Musselburgh and Gullane faced treacherous trips, to Longniddry and Haddington respectively. But both coped well in challenging conditions, and delivered their wins.

And that leaves Musselburgh on top of the table, with Gullane just a point behind them. Craigielaw are the other team in contention, two points further back, but now with a game in hand.

And there’s little let-up in the title race, with Craigielaw in action at home to Haddington next week, while Musselburgh travel to Winterfield. Craigielaw must be hot favourites against the league’s bottom team (whose relegation was in fact confirmed by today’s defeat), but the challenge in front of Musselburgh is more significant. Winterfield have earned all of their point this season at home, and lost out only by the narrowest of margins when the two teams met earlier in the season at Musselburgh.

Musselburgh however know they can win the league with two wins to finish off their programme, and will be up for the challenge as they travel to their final away assignment.

Haddington 2 Gullane 3
Longniddry 1 Musselburgh 4

The race for the league title got more intense, if not any nearer a resolution, as Gullane saw off the challenge from a resurgent Tantallon, while leaders Musselburgh, and their adversaries (for a second week in a row), Craigielaw, could not be separated.

So that leaves Gullane and Craigielaw just a point adrift of long time leaders Musselburgh. But it’s Gullane that face the toughest run-in, with three away matches remaining – at Haddington, Craigielaw and Winterfield. Musselburgh can stay on top if they win at Longniddry next week, then they go to Winterfield before finishing their schedule at home to Longniddry. Craigielaw have three home fixtures, to Haddington, Gullane and Tantallon.

But the scramble to avoid relegation is even more intense.

Haddington need a minor miracle to survive, starting with a win against Gullane next week, but they must also pray that neither Winterfield nor Tantallon scores any more points this season.

In all likelihood, Longniddry, Tantallon and Winterfield are left to fight out the one remaining safe spot, one place in the relegation play-off, and one spot in certain relegation.

Longniddry, in the best position right now with a 1-point advantage, host Winterfield in what looks to be a crucial match where some points must be shared amongst the scrapping teams, but either side of that they face leaders Musselburgh.

Tantallon have just two matches remaining – against bottom team Haddington, and away to title challengers Craigielaw.

Winterfield are at home to leaders Musselburgh, away to Longniddry, then at home to title challengers Gullane.

Musselburgh 2½ Craigielaw 2½
Gullane 3½ Tantallon 1½
Longniddry 4 Haddington 1