Day 4 of the Bowls Scotland National Championships being played at Ayr Northfield saw Edinburgh District 15 challengers Dean Fleming of Currie and Shona Johnstone of Merchiston score good first round wins in their respective mainstream Gents and Ladies Singles.
Read MoreBut their District 14 counterparts Darren McKenny of Pilrig and Alison McDougall of Maitland suffered the misery of defeat.
However former District 14 super star Billy Mellors winner of the 2006 title when with Goldenacre served up a strong display to carry the banner of Haddington and East Lothian into the second round. and was joined by West Lothian challenger Andy Dunnett of Queensferry. Fleming stimulated the hopes of his support with the inclusion of three counts of 4 to lead Allan Barrie of Kirkintilloch 16-9 then answered the loss of a single with a run of 1, 1, 3 to clinch a 21-10 win in 18-ends.
Mellors playing on the same late session had his work cut out to beat Graeme Gwynne of Sandyhills, 21-17 in 23-ends having picked up from 11-10 down to cross to 14 then answering pressure at 20-17 with a single to 21.
Dunnett was an early afternoon starter and the 43 year old two times WL Master zipped into a 20-6 lead but it was five ends later before carded the single for a 21-14 win in 20-ends over Gary Thorburn of Gala Waverley.
High expectations that the classy McKenny would add the Singles to his Pairs title triumph of 2012 were dashed by a 21-9 defeat from Paul Carnegie of Newgate in 19-ends.
Play in the ladies Singles saw Johnstone a former winner of the Edinburgh Open at Balgreen show her tournament level of concentration to push on from 9-9 and beat Marjory Thomson of Errol, 21-9, in 17-ends.
East Lothian star Dee Hoggan of Tranent J/Singles champion in 2009, raced into a 10-0 lead then clinched a 21-10 win in 17-ends over Sharon McCallum of Brock and was joined in round two by high profile West Lothian ace Lorraine Craig. Craig of Glenmavis (Bathgate) national champion in 2007 and 2009 added 1, 3, 1, 1, 2, 3 to lead Margaret Morrison of Nitshill & Hurlett, 16-4, then wrapped up a 21-10 win in 19-ends.
But there was to be know second round appearance for McDougall with the Maitland star losing ground from 12-14 in a 21-16 defeat from Stephanie Bell of Howard Park.
An eye caching first round clash in the Ladies Pairs between 4 times champions Leanne and Lauren Baillie of Cockenzie & Port Seton and 3 times champions Sandra Steven and Kirsteen McLelland of Uphall Station stood 12-12 before ending 15-12 in favour of the West Lothian duo.
The appearance of Rooney, Berra, and Duffus in the gents triples caused excitement on the banking and the Postal trio finished 1, 1, 1, 5, (2) to snatch a headline first round win, 14-13, over Windygates but Neal, Christian, and Craig ruined it all with a 13-8 exit to Castle Douglas in the second round.