Bowls: Big names still in nationals

Most of the big names in men's singles and women's pairs bowls reached the last 16 at the national bowls championships in sunny Christchurch yesterday.

Several mouth-watering clashes are on the cards this morning at the tournament's Burnside headquarters.

In the top half of the draw Marlene Castle and Lisa Dickson of Onehunga are scheduled to face international pairing Sharon Sims and Mary Campbell in the quarters if both win their first match of the day.

Earlier, Sims and Campbell accounted for defending pairs champions Norma Stewart and Janis Scott.

In the lower half the Khan sisters, Marina and Jan, have progressed to the last 16, as have Nelson duo Jo Edwards and Val Smith, but they are separated enough in the draw for a potential meeting in a semifinals tomorrow morning.

That would rekindle a run of meetings at these nationals - Smith beat Marina Khan in singles last 16, but lost to Jan Khan in the quarters.

Edwards gained revenge for the Nelson duo when she beat Jan Khan in the semis, and moved on to the final, also tomorrow.

In men's singles, Gary Lawson and Ivan Kostanich have two titles each and could meet in the quarters in round two today.

In the bottom half of the draw Petar Sain is also a two-time champion, and will play Andrew Curtain in the pick of the round one matches.

But Hornby Domain veteran Bernie Johns prevented Mike Kernaghan from becoming a fourth contender with two titles still alive this year, overcoming the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in the last 32.

Johns will now play defending champion Ali Forsyth from Nelson, in the last 16 at the expense of Blenheim teenager Matt Gallop.

All matches are at the Burnside HQ, with today's session narrowing the fields down to finalists in the men's singles and to semifinalists in women's pairs.

- NZPA