KEY POINTS:
The English World Bowls four, skipped by Robert Newman, were among the first to qualify for post section play when they recorded their fourth straight win at the National Open Bowls Championships in Christchurch yesterday.
Newman beat Burnside's Graham Champion 20-11 in his first game, after a perfect three wins on Saturday. Also through without a loss was Gary Lawson's Black Jacks four, another team in their last stages of preparation for World Bowls, and Andrew Kelly of Elmwood's young giant-killers.
Others among the four win qualifiers included George Shaw (Papakura), Petar Sain (Carlton-Cornwall), defending champion Sean O'Neill from Timaru, Philip Skoglund's star-laden four from Northern and Canadian Ryan Bester's composite combination.
New pairs champion Jo Babich (Carlton-Cornwall) leads the women's qualifiers, notching her fourth straight win, with her rival skip from the pairs final on Friday, Karin Ware (Beckenham). Others with four consecutive games are Carole Howison (Elmwood), Dale Lang (Tawa), Barbara Lyon (New Lynn), Stella Trower (Burnside), Audrey Stevenson (Paraparaumu Beach) and Carolyn Crawford (St Clair).
- NZPA
