Curling: Dalkeith four face England

JOYCE GREEN, Jeanette Conlan, Sandra McLeish and Agnes Melrose from Midlothian held off a determined challenge from Alison Merrien's Guernsey rink to progress to the semi-finals of the British Isles fours championship in Belfast and stay on track for a record-setting third title.

The quartet were tied 9-9 after nine ends but then reeled off a 3, 2, 1, 1 to move 16-9 ahead. They dropped two singles but counted three shots over the next two ends to move to 19-11 with only four ends remaining.

However, Guernsey fought back counting a 4, 1, 2 to leave them one down playing the last when the ladies from Dalkeith counted a double to book a semi-final place against England.

This is the first time that the men's and women's indoor championships have been played together under the same roof and elsewhere yesterday, Auchinleck's Stewart Anderson progressed to the semis of the principal singles beating England's Gary R Smith 21-7 and Lanarkshire trio Ian Campbell, Mark McGowan and Robert Grant eased through 19-6 against Wales.

In the women's event, Ardrossan duo Michelle Cooper and Kathleen Soudan lost six shots at the final two ends to crash 23-20 to Wales.

Scotland play today in the Junior Singles, Pairs and Senior Fours.