Bowls: Rocky start for Goodwin

Justin Goodwin's return from Australia has not resulted in the smoothest of starts to interclub bowls for the young New Zealand representative.

In a contest Hillsboro and Goodwin were expected to win comfortably, someone neglected to tell Ivan Zonich and Mt Eden as Zonich comfortably beat his more vaunted opponent 21-12 in the singles.

Mt Eden must have felt an upset was on the cards, but a closely fought fours contest saw Hillsboro save face when Grant Goodwin's four overcame a spirited challenge from Mt Eden skip Gus Nola, with a four in the closing stages stretching their lead to a flattering 18-13.

An upset in section four saw seasoned New Zealand representative Rowan Brassey and partner Ross Haresnape lose the pairs to the Henderson pair skipped by Bruce Ward. However neither the Henderson singles nor fours could capitalise on the win, with Avondale taking out the match 2-1.

The highlight of the section was the excellent form of 22-year-old Jamie Hill, recently named to represent New Zealand in the under-25 world indoor singles in Belfast. Hill leaves for Dublin at the end of the month, and looks to be peaking at the right time.