STUART Thomson and John McCrorie headed to Aberdeen last weekend in search of Scottish singles glory.

Both players had wins in their opening fixtures, Thomson seeing off the challenge of Fraserburgh 21-14 and McCrorie convincingly defeating Garioch 21-7.

Thomson found an extra gear in the next round as he quickly dismissed Headwell 21-6, suffering just three lost ends in the process.

McCrorie faced a tough challenge in the form of 2019/2020 national singles winner Connor Milne (Turriff).

A late start meant both players were forced to wait an hour after their scheduled start time.

Milne set out his intentions from the first end, dispatching four chalkers, finishing within inches of the jack for a full house count.

McCrorie, unphased, responded and levelled the match 10-10.

With play finished for the day across the rest of the carpet, all eyes were focused on the last tie in action as the players exchanged end after end before Milne created some daylight as he led 19-15.

McCrorie once against responded as he looked to join Thomson in the next round.

However, it was to be Milne that would be first to 21, securing a double on the last end to take the tie 21-18.

Thomson, determined to take full advantage of his first outing in a national play down event, started the Sunday with the same focus.

Under-25 international Liam Nicholson provided the challenge in the tie but Thomson displayed his full repertoire of shots in a 21-15 victory.

Midlothian’s Jamie Hanlan would provide the last 16 challenge and, in similar fashion, Thomson dispatched the challenger with a very familiar 21-15 score line.

Next up was former junior international Mark Mcintosh (Stonehaven), who stood between Thomson and a place in the semi-finals.

After slow starts in the previous rounds, the East Lothian man was in no mood for a close affair as he raced to an unassailable 15-0 lead to leave Mcintosh stunned. The Stonehaven man resorted to heavy running shots as he looked to force a way into the game.

He did make his way on to the card and scored successive ends to trail 15-6 but a patient Thomson managed the play over the next few ends as he looked to see out the match.

A double clinched his place in the last four (21-10).

Thomson will face Cameron Wilson (Galleon) in the first of the semi-finals, while previous winner Connor Milne (Turriff) and world top 16-star Michael Stepney (Elgin) make up the other semi-final.

The ties will be played at Inverclyde Indoor Bowling Club on November 26.

Meanwhile, East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club ladies wait for their first league win continues as they slipped to a 71-48 defeat at Midlothian.

It was defeat across the carpet as Lauren Baillie-Whyte (-4), Janet Fairnie (-9) and Beth Riva (-10) could not find answers to an excellent display by the home side.

They will look to get their first points on the board when they return to league action in a few weeks when they head to Balbardie (West Lothian).