Bowls: Boyds back through to pairs post section

Mandy Boyd teamed with sister Angela to win through to post section play. Photo / Greg Bowker

Defending champions sisters Mandy and Angela Boyd won through to post section play in the pairs today at Heartland Bank National Open Bowls in Christchurch.

They have tough competition ahead from the Blackjack pairing of Val Smith and Jo Edwards and Canterbury's Sandra King and Serena Mathews.

The mother and daughter combinations of Leigh and Kirsten Griffin and Australian Jackaroo Kelsey Cottrell and her mother Marilyn Clayton have also qualified.

As the weather improved so did the level of play in the men's singles post section.

The first upset of the day was caused by 20 year old Richard Hocking who beat the very experienced Richard Girvan.

After being behind for the first 11 ends he played very steady bowls to finally win 21-17.

Hocking then went on to beat Sean O'Neill 21-14 to make the final 16 where he will play Robbie Bird.

Also in what ended up being a surprisingly one sided game, Roger Stevens (Waikiwi) defeated past champion Blackjack Tony Grantham (Birkenhead) 21-9.

All playoff games will be tough but special interest will be given to the first up matches of Blackjack Shannon McIlroy playing Lance Pascoe and the young Keanu Darby from Timaru playing the man with 11 national titles Gary Lawson.

All men's singles matches, including the playoff for third and fourth, will be played at Burnside club tomorrow.