Gifford recorded their first win of the season when they entertained Whitekirk on Sunday.   After a fruitless trip to Kilspindie in their only other match to date, this was a match Kevin Murphy’s side had to win if they are to mount any kind of challenge in Division 2 this term.  Yet it was every bit as important for Whitekirk who came in search of a win that could take them top of the table.

And predictably it was a closely fought contest from start to finish.  The home skipper paired up with Blair Shearer at the top of the order, and lead by example turning an early 2 hole deficit into a last green win.  Then teammates Doctor and Cunningham added to the tally with a 1 hole victory of their own, before the third match fell to Ian Hazell and Ronnie McLean for the visitors, also on the home green.  But just as that one concluded Peter Graham and Andy Finlayson made sure of the points for Gifford as they delivered their win on the sixteenth.  Gifford prevailed 2/1 in the remaining tie as well, leaving Whitekirk with little to show for their efforts.

There was derby action at the Racecourse in the day’s only other match as Musselburgh Old played host to Thorntree.  The home team took control from the outset with Elmwood students Euan Glen and Matty Craigie recording a 6/5 win.  The other matches were closer, but with one exception they too went the home team’s way, and when Colin Whoriskey and Andrew Burnside prevailed on the 18^th green they secured the points for Musselburgh Old.

So both of Sunday’s winners move up the table with their first points of the campaign, and there will be more to come for at least one of them when they go head to head at Gifford this weekend.