Bowls: New Zealand off to flying start

SYDNEY - New Zealand bowlers made an unbeaten start to the rich Kingscliff Invitation Classic Pairs in northern New South Wales yesterday with three wins and a draw in the first round of pool play.

Seven shots on the first end set defending champions Russell Meyer and Paul Girdler on their way in the men's event of the $A40,000 ($47,200) tournament at the Kingscliff Bowls Club. Meyer and Girdler went on to beat Queenslanders Charlie Hayes and Fred Diamond 19-12.

There were wins as well for the two other New Zealand men's pairs, who were up against NSW opposition.

Sydney-based Peter Belliss and partner Rowan Brassey, who together won the Kingscliff title in 1999 and 2000, beat Leif Selby and Adam Jeffery 22-18. Bruce McNish and Brian Baldwin, both now with the Musgrave Hill club on the Queensland Gold Coast, overcame Shane Garvey and Kevin Walsh 20-16.

In the women's event, the defending titleholders are also New Zealanders - Jo Edwards, winner of a Commonwealth Games gold in Manchester last month, and Wendy Jensen.

Their match against Queenslanders Julie Keegan and Marilyn Peddell was the afternoon highlight. Edwards and Jensen led until the 15th end, but Keegan and Peddell, an Australian international, were able to force a 16-16 draw.

The tournament features 12 pairs in the men's and the women's events.

In each event, the pairs are divided into two pools, with the pool winners going into the respective finals on Thursday.

- NZPA