Published: Thursday, 12th June, 2008 8:05am

Bowlers prepare for national semi-finals

The second round ties of the Scottish National Championships were played around the county last Monday with excitement at all the greens involved.

In the Singles 'Banger' Strang, Elphinstone had to overcome a stern test from young Ross Parkin, Longniddry. Extra experience told and 'Banger' won through 21 - 15 and will now play Brian Bird, Castlepark who beat Graham Bell, East Linton 21 - 19 after a ding dong battle at Elphinstone.

An epic encounter also took place at E L Co-op where only two shots separated Derek Logie, Cockenzie & Port Seton and Colin Bonner, Haddington. Colin got off to a slow start losing 7 shots in the first four ends.

Derek continued his excellent form and stood 13 - 3 in front after 10 ends.

Colin scored on 8 of the next 9 ends to stand only one behind after 19 ends. It was now anybody"s game and Colin took the lead for the first time on the 25th end to lead 19 - 17 but Derek pulled out all the stops to score four successive singles to go through 21 - 19. Derek will now play Former Champion John McCrorie, Ormiston who had a comfortable 21 - 7 win over Colin Hogg, Macmerry.

The Aberlady pairing of Bill Dunleavey and Jim Pringle beat Elphinstone 21 - 13 and will now play the E L Co-op duo of Mark Taylor and Scott Dodds who were involved in and high-class game at Co"path. Steven and Colin Glen, Haddington took the game to an extra and before the Co-op pair won through 16 - 15.

Also through to the semi-finals are Mike Newlands and Stewart Bell, East Linton who had an 18 - 9 win over Cockburnspath and that will play Alan Clydesdale and Shaun Tuite from North Berwick.

In the triples E L Labour had a single shot win over Elphinstone at Gullane and will play Dunbar. This tie will be played at West Barns while Castlepark will take on Gifford at Dunbar. In the fours E L Co-op also had a single shot victory over Macmerry and they will meet Castlepark who came from behind to beat West Barns. Haddington will play East Linton in the second semi-final.

The Junior Singles semi-finals will be between Thomas Heron, Tranent and Scott Rutherford, Castlepark and Derek Oliver Cockenzie & Port Seton and Eric Dickson Macmerry.

All the semi-final ties will be played on Dunbar and West Barns greens next Monday evening with a 7pm start.

In the senior fours West Barns A had a comfortable 16 - 6 win over East Linton B. In the semi finals they play Macmerry who were 12 - 9 winners over E L Labour.

The semi-finals of the senior fours take place at Haddington on Monday afternoon at 2pm.

The Ormiston B v East Linton A game saw Ormiston 7 - 2 ahead after 4 ends but East Linton A fought back to 10 - 10 after 13 ends. Two singles on the last two ends for East Linton saw them go through to play E L Co-op A who overcame Cockburnspath 19 - 8.

For further information please contact John B Halliday on 01368 850305 or 07951 597894.