Bowls: Scott Noble sends U25 champ Russell Wilson crashing out

RUSSELL WILSON'S defence of the Edinburgh & Leith Under 25 bowls Singles title was short-lived with the 2009 champion suffering defeat to Scott Noble in the first round of the James S Fleming Trophy.

The clash at Blackhall saw the demise of Wilson (Juniper Green) in 21 ends but Paul O'Donnell is a frontline challenger for a title he won in 2002 and the 24-year old Bainfield star advanced his challenge at the expense of 22-year old Gordon Aitken of Carrick Knowe at Braid.

John McDermott of Sighthill is another front runner and the 2003 champion was in fine form at Seafield where, from 9-9, he produced a strong finish to win 21-10 against James Smith of Willowbrae.

Neal Rooney of Postal had a difficult opponent in the shape of Junior England cap John Bell, now of Parkside, and a cracking encounter saw them deadlocked at 15-15 before the Postal ace stamped his authority with a run of 3, 1, 1, 1 to 21 at Ferranti.

Teenage talent was on show at Whitehouse and Grange and it shaped up as one-way traffic when Stephen Pringle of Carrick Knowe led 15-5, however he came under great pressure at 18-16 from Daniel Gormley of Craigentinny before hitting 21 with a 2, 1 finish.

Kyle Newall of Hillside has ambitions to go one step further than his 21-20 defeat in last season's final and kept hopes alive with a dramatic 21-18 win against Chris Conway of Queensberry at Goldenacre.

Andrew Caldwell came racing off a 9-13 pace to beat his Craigentinny clubmate Kerr McKail, 21-13. Ross Noble (Sighthill), Euan Craig (Pilrig) and Mark Hogg of Goldenacre were the other winners.

• EDINBURGH & LEITH resume their defence of the Under 25 League Cup with a home match against Midlothian at Bainfield tomorrow and welcome back Paul O'Donnell to captain the team. He skips Steven Pringle, Stuart Jenkins, and Scott Noble, while Colin Tough switches to play second to Andrew Caldwell with Neil Mackintosh moved to the reserve bench.