In strong winds on Gullane No 1, Royal Musselburgh proved too strong for 2nd Division champions Haddington as they claimed their first East Lothian Winter Cup title.
Haddington had been riding high coming into the match, winning their final four league fixtures (including two away to their main title challengers), and notably beating six time champions Gullane in the semi-final over their own patch. But it was Royal Musselburgh that took the early advantage, racing to healthy leads in the top four ties.
Haddington were able to battle back, winning 15 and 16 to draw level at the top of the order, whilst George Blair and Owen Martin clawed their way back from six down to just two with five to play.
But that was as close as it got, with Royal displaying some accurate play around the greens to claim the middle three ties with a little to spare. In the end Kevin Young and Robert Cochrane made a winning par on the tricky short 16th to secure the title.
No 2nd Division team has won the Cup, although this was the fifth time a team from the lower flight has contested the final. However congratulations are due to Jamie Ramsay’s side, whose strong run through the mid-season made their place in the top flight safe, before their successful Cup run rounded off an excellent winter season.