Bowls: Castle secures spot in last four

BELFAST - Titleholder Marlene Castle is through to the semifinals of the world indoor bowls championships in Belfast after a straight-sets win last night.

The New Zealander beat Cheryl Northall, of England, 7-2, 7-3, in the quarter-finals.

Her likely semifinal opponent is Australian Marilyn Peddell.

Earlier, the Orewa bowler, who started the tournament with a loss, needed to beat Canadian Lynn McIlroy to be sure of making the final eight.

She did that in straight sets, lowering the colours of her previously unbeaten rival 7-0, 7-3 to qualify top of her section.

Elsewhere, the news was not good for New Zealand. Millie Khan was ousted from the women's singles and Mike Kernaghan eliminated from the men's singles without a win.

Khan had kept her hopes alive with a 7-4, 6-7, 7-1 second-round win over Gaynor Thomas, of Jersey, but was then beaten in straight sets by Hong Kong's Anna Clark.

Khan said she was not disappointed.

"Really, I was happy with my bowls. The girl from Hong Kong played beautifully. I'm the cheerleader now."

Castle and Kernaghan won their way into the semifinals of the mixed pairs when they beat Americans Ed Quo and Katy Stone 9-1, 9-2.

- NZPA