Published: Thursday, 5th June, 2008 8:00am

Action at Scottish National Champs hots up

The first round ties for the Scottish National bowling championships were completed around the county last Monday.

In the singles, former champion John McCrorie, of Ormiston, had the luxury of a walkover and goes forward to play Macmerry"s Colin Hogg, who had a close 21-18 win over junior internationalist Paul McLaren, E L Co-op.

Colin Bonner(Haddington) had an emphatic win over Neil Purves(Cockburnspath) and will now face fellow county player Derek Logie (Cockenzie & Port Seton) who beat Prestongrange"s Steven Greenan, 21 - 15.

Also through to the second round is Graham Bell (East Linton), 21- 11 winner over David Middleton (North Berwick) and he will now play Brian Bird (Castlepark) who overcame Gifford"s Charlie Young, 21-15.

Following his 21-10 win over Scott Kennedy, of West Barns Robert Strang (Elphinstone) will play Ross Parkin, of Longniddry, who was a 21 - 9 winner over John Carpenter (Athelstaneford).

In the pairs, Elphinstone set up a tie against Aberlady; while Haddington will play E L Co-op. In the other half of the draw Cockburnspath play East Linton and Tranent face North Berwick.

The triples ties will be between Elphinstone and E L Labour, Aberlady and Dunbar, Cockenzie & Port Seton and Castlepark and Gifford and Stenton.

In the fours E L Co-op will play Macmerry and West Barns face Castlepark.

Also through are Longniddry to play Haddington and Prestongrange playing East Linton.

In the junior singles Chris O"Brien (West Barns) will play Eric Dickson, of Macmerry. Dickson had the fight back of the night when he came back from 18-4 down to record a 21-20 victory over Jamie Blair (Haddington).

Last year"s junior international team captain, Derek Oliver (Cockenzie & Port Seton) will play the Dunbar junior.

An interesting encounter will take place between Scott Rutherford, Castlepark and Gareth Lusk, E L Co-op while Thomas Heron, Tranent and Magnus Martin, Gifford complete the second round ties.All of the above ties take place next Monday evening.

Prestongrange is the venue next Monday afternoon for the senior fours and both East Linton rinks have won through with the "A" rink playing Ormiston "B".The B rink plays West Barns and E L Labour play Macmerry; while E L Co-op "A" face Cockburnspath.

SBA"s John Halliday would like to remind clubs that the ties due to be played at Gifford have been switched to Cockenzie and Port Seton, while the ties at Aberlady have been moved to Gullane.