Bowls: Pairs champions advance unbeaten

Defending pairs champions Steve Posa and Kevin Robinson maintained an unblemished record as they led 145 other combinations into post-section play at the national championships in Wellington.

"The weather and greens have been pretty good, far better than Auckland last year," said Posa, who has also won three national club championships titles - singles in 2002 and 2003, and the fours last year.

Hot favourites Gary Lawson and Rowan Brassey were also undefeated, flying through their five straight wins.

Lawson said he and Brassey were "trying to get in the groove and play well".

"We have given ourselves a chance in post-section play so that's good, but the competition will get a lot tougher from here," said Lawson.

Fellow Commonwealth Games representative Richard Girvan and nine-times national champion Danny O'Connor, New Zealand under-18 representatives Shannon McIlroy and Matt Gallop also qualified.

McIlroy has teamed up with Robin Jefferson, and Gallop with Sanjhe Prasad.

Also making post-section play are 2002-03 pairs champions, Wally Marsic and Petar Sain.

Other contenders moving through were Phil Skoglund and Kelvin Scott and Leo Leonard and Ali Forsyth.

World pairs champion Ryan Bester of Canada and his partner, Colin Lowery, from Christchurch, also comfortably made post-section play.

Commonwealth Games representatives Jamie Hill and Justin Goodwin, began yesterday needing to win every match after losing twice on Tuesday.

Their day began with a 30-6 win over Henry Peters and Trevor Milgate but a 16-9 loss to Bryan Whale and Tony Murray saw them drop out of contention.

Qualifying for the women's pairs also began yesterday, with sisters Jan and Marina Khan and triple world champion Sharon Sims with Mary Campbell all recording three wins.

Reigning world pairs champion Jo Edwards and Commonwealth Games triples skip Val Smith are also on track with three wins, as well as last year's pairs champions, Anne Bateman and Janice McLean.

Marlene Castle and daughter Raelene are also looking likely to make the cut, winning all three of their rubbers.

Facing elimination are Commonwealth Games triples representative Serena Mathews (Mangere Bridge) and partner Jan Malcolm (Frankton Railway) who surprisingly lost twice yesterday.

- NZPA