Inveresk went up to a sunny Penicuik, to contest the Esk League Knock-out Cup on Sunday morning. They were drawn against the favourite Bonnyrigg and after a rousing speech from Jamie Mitchell they took the green in a buoyant mood. The first few ends of the match were evenly matched, as Inveresk held their own against the First Division Champion  opponents. After 8 ends Bonnyrigg led 2-1, Ross Marwick’s rink led 8-5, whilst Jamie Mitchell’s & Mark Yuill’s were losing 5-8 & 6-9 and looked good for a fighting finish, sadly at the 10^th end Mark’s rink lost a disastrous 7 and although they themselves took a 5 in the next end, went down 11-24, Ross’s rink went on to win 14-11 and it all rested on Jamie’s rink. Their game changed on the 11^th end, where they lost a pair after  they were lying 4 shots, when the opposing skip fired at the end, more in hope and depending  on a slice of luck, this turned a 4 shot to Inveresk into a pair for Bonnyrigg and this ended the Inveresk challenge as they went on to lose 9-15.

The Inveresk team now had to pick themselves up and get ready to play Buccleuch in the Consolation Plate Competition for 3^rd. From the onset it looked as if it would rest on the one rink, as 2 of the rinks were virtually settled after 5 ends. Jamie’s rink got off to the worst start and were 1-15 down after the 5^th end, whereas Ross’s rink led their opponents 10-0, both carried on and it was 1-1 with Mark Yuill’s rink, being the decisive one. At the 6^th end Mark led 8-4 but the Buccleuch side never gave up and took  a 1,2 & 1 to make it 8-7 after 9 ends. The 10^th end proved to be the pivotal end, when Mark’s rink looked to have the winning shot tied up, however a brilliant bowl from the Buccleuch 3^rd took the jack through, luckily for Mark the bowl never stuck to the jack, the Inveresk skip then outdrew the Buccleuch skip to take a crucial 2 shots from the end to give Inveresk a 3 shot cushion. At the last end the front end of Inveresk, Harry “Sting” O’Hara, Peter Ramsay & Willie Fowler all surrounded the jack and forced the Buccleuch skip to drive, with Mark Yuill putting 2 bowls to cover the back, the pressure was too much for the Buccleuch player and he missed the 2 firing shots, giving Inveresk the victory 2-1.

So it was well done to the Inveresk team: Jamie Mitchell Snr. Alec Turnbull, Davy Walker, Brian Burnside, Ross Marwick, James Kay, Stuart Boyle, Brendan Boyle, Mark Yuill,Willie Fowler, Peter Ramsay & Harry “Sting” O’Hara.