Whitekirk dealt a blow to Dunbar’s promotion hopes in one of just two Division 2 fixtures that survived Sunday’s icy weather.

As the sun shone on Whitekirk hill the greens remained extremely firm in the frosty conditions.   The home team got off to a good start when skipper Ian Hazell teamed up with Ronnie McLean to secure a point in a closely fought game at the top of the order.  The next three ties remained close, but it was a case of one-way traffic in the anchor match, where Fraser Gray and Richard Dickinson handed their hosts a dog licence to level the score.  Stevie Nicol and John Archibald added a second point for the visitors when they hung on for a last green win, but that was immediately cancelled out as Andy Ovens and David Hill secured their point for the home team on the seventeenth.  And there was joy for youngster Jack Rogan who paired up with Cam Murray to deliver his first ever point for his team in match 4, and in doing so secured a valuable win that moves Whitekirk into the promotion places.

The result was a setback for Dunbar, tipped at the start of the season to make a quick return to the top flight.  So it’s crunch time for Gary Queen’s outfit, who will be looking to make home advantage count as they entertain Haddington and Kilspindie in their next two outings.

Meanwhile Glen found the perfect way to bounce back from disappointment a fortnight ago when victory was cruelly snatched from them at Kilspindie.  This week’s assignment was just over the fence at Craigielaw, and they inflicted a crushing defeat on their hosts.  The consistent Gary Reid and Jim Jack led the way when they prevailed on the fifteenth green in the top tie and incredibly that was enough to secure the points, the visitors having secured wins as far back as the twelfth green in matches two and three.  The remaining ties were closer, but they eventually went to the Glen as well, and the result surely condemns Craigielaw to another season in the lower flight.

So with the cold weather leaving the top two teams on the sidelines this week, Glen move back to the top with Whitekirk stepping in to the second promotion spot.  But there could be more changes on Sunday, when Kilspindie, Haddington and Gifford, all very much in the promotion race, are in action once again.