Gwen Lawson Northland bowls column: Kensington bowler Patricia Murray makes national singles quarterfinals
7 Jan, 2021 03:50 PM
2 minutes to read
Northern Advocate
By: Gwen Lawson
The past week has seen the New Zealand national singles and pairs for men and women contested in the North Harbour and Auckland centres.
Typical wet weather started the week and all 128 entries in the women s singles were put through to post-section play. Congratulations to those that reached the last 32 of this competition and a special well done to Patricia Murray (Kensington) who reached the last eight before being beaten by Connie Mathieson (Takapuna) in a hard fought match.
There s been a few upsets on the first day of post section in the men s singles draw at the national bowls championships in Auckland
There s been a few upsets on the first day of post section in the men s singles draw at the national bowls championships in Auckland 7 January 2021
Two-time singles winner and world champion Shannon McIlroy has been knocked out by John O Shea in the round of 64.
Fellow double-winner Gary Lawson, alongside three-time champion Mike Kernaghan have also been eliminated.
Defending champion Andrew Kelly s the only men s Black Jack left standing, and highlights the field that will contend the quarter-finals today.
Playing an Auckland combination of Caroline Dubios and Denise West – who also needed the win to qualify – it was Dubios and West that prevailed 15-11. There were some anxious moments for some of the other contenders, but in the final wash up they survived. Included in that group were the champions of two seasons ago in the women’s pairs, Lisa Prideaux and Val Smith. Smith suffered a second loss on Wednesday morning – following one on Tuesday – going down 18-16 to Kirsty Hill. Hill is the sister of men’s pairs winner, Jamie. But with wins in the last two rounds were enough for Prideaux and Smith to make Thursday’s rounds.