Kilspindie came out on top when they finally met Glen in their delayed league match. It was a tense struggle with the early matches shared, G Bett & Phil James winning for the visitors at the top, before Ben Stirling & Chirandreev Nagra got one back for the home team on the 15th green, then Gary Porteous & Don McKinnon put Kilspindie ahead, also on the 15th. The last two matches were tighter, M Monteith & Marc Burrows winning their tie for Glen on the 17th to level things up again, then Brian Thomson & Derek Thomson snatched the decisive win for the home team, also on the 17th, to secure the match.

So that leaves just one match remaining to complete the season, and the Glen will host Gifford in that match, provisionally scheduled for 10 March.

Kilspindie 3 Glen 2

Musselburgh Old’s challenge for the Second Division title came up just a fraction short, when the plucky team from the Racetrack lost out narrowly at home to Dunbar. Their season had featured wins all the way (since their 1 October reverse to Royal Musselburgh) and that had proved enough to take them into a 1-point lead over their local rivals with just one match left to play. But Dunbar were strong enough to spoil the party and keep their own slender hopes of a promotion play-off alive.

Up the road at Royal Musselburgh, the home team were able to take full advantage of the Old Course defeat, beating visitors Kilspindie comfortably to leapfrog their rivals and secure the league title. Congratulations are due to them for their elevation back to the top flight after just a season in Div 2.

North Berwick were good enough to beat Thorntree, and in so doing improved their own points difference enough to steal third place from Dunbar.

The match between Glen and Gifford was postponed due to fog.

Glen P Gifford P
Royal Musselburgh 5 Kilspindie 0
Thorntree ½ North Berwick 4½
Musselburgh Old 1½ Dunbar 3½

Musselburgh Old stuck to their tried and tested process and ground out a priceless 3-2 win at home to Kilspindie. The result takes them to the top of the table, and removes Kilspindie, Dunbar and North Berwick from the title race.

Now only long time leaders Royal Musselburgh can spoil the party at the Racecourse. Royal must beat Kilspindie at home next week, and hope Musselburgh Old don’t do the same thing to Dunbar they have done to every other opponent that has visited the famous Old Links this season.

The fate of the rest of the teams rests on Kilspindie beating Royal Musselburgh. If they can do that, then Dunbar, North Berwick or Kilspindie themselves can still steal second spot, and a place in the Play-Off for a spot in Div 1 next season.

Musselburgh Old 3 Kilspindie 2
North Berwick 5 Gifford 0
Dunbar 4 Thorntree 1

Musselburgh Old recorded a win at home to Thorntree on Sunday to put pressure on Royal Musselburgh, the leaders of Div 2 since beating their local rivals from the racecourse 5-0 on the opening day of the season.
But now Scott McFarlane’s team have the opportunity to move up to first place when they host Kilspindie next week.
With a gap opening up between them and North Berwick in 3rd place, it’s looking increasingly like a two-horse race for the title.
But should they lose to Kilspindie, it’s likely that both North Berwick and Dunbar (as well as Kilspindie) will move back into contention.
Elsewhere Gifford finally played they much delayed match against Dunbar, losing 4-1 to the league’s newest team.
Musselburgh Old 4½ Thorntree ½
Gifford 1 Dunbar 4

Musselburgh Old came from behind to record a precious win up at Gifford, while leaders Royal Musselburgh faltered, losing to Glen. In the other Div 2 match, Dunbar and North Berwick couldn’t be separated, eventually drawing their match.
So the upshot is, with Kilspindie sitting on the sidelines this week, Musselburgh Old have moved up into the play-off spot, and can reel in leaders Royal Musselburgh if they win the two matches they have in hand – at home to Thorntree next week and then at home to Kilspindie on the last Sunday in January.
If they do that they will set up a dramatic finale to the season, when they host Dunbar on 11th Feb, as Royal entertain Kilspindie.
But should they falter, North Berwick, Kilspindie and Dunbar are waiting just a little further back.
It’s looking likely there will be more excitement before the season is out.
Glen 3½ Royal Musselburgh 1½
Gifford 2 Musselburgh Old 3
Dunbar 2½ North Berwick 2½