Tantallon’s strong start this season is in contrast to their recent top flight campaigns - they last started well in Div 1 in 2011-12, a year they finished runners-up behind Longniddry. Since then Fraser Symon’s outfit have been relegated twice only to bounce back. Last season they faced the drop once again before completing a brave run of four wins after the new year to survive – perhaps a sign of things to come.

Changes have been afoot and of this year’s squad only Symon and Chris Low were stalwarts of the 2011-12 campaign. Three seasons spent in the lower division allowed opportunities to be competitive as they developed a new young squad. Now those young players are bringing confidence and belief to their matches in the top flight, evidenced by their clean sweep at home on Sunday, and a 100% start to the current campaign sees Tantallon sit top of the table.

But don’t write off Gullane. While Tantallon were rebuilding, Gullane were winning the league – five times in a row, alongside six Cup wins and two Stroke Play titles since 2012. This season they’re just a point off the pace in the league table, but that’s after playing all four of their opening matches away. This Sunday they square up to the leaders in the first of five consecutive home fixtures. Oh, and if anyone needs reminding the champions have been beaten at home just three times in the six seasons since Tantallon last contended for the title.

But Tantallon seem ready. Whatever the outcome, Sunday’s match looks set to be the highlight of the season so far, and whichever team prevails will know they’ve earned early bragging rights in the 2018-19 title race.

Read the Evening News coverage here.