Bowls: Scott eliminates Lawson to make last 16

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Shaun Scott (North East Valley) added two more big bowls scalps to his bag when he advanced to the last 16 in the men's singles in Dunedin yesterday.

Scott beat double world champion Gary Lawson (Eastbourne) 21-9 and denied him the chance of getting a record 11 New Zealand open championship titles this week.

He then downed Richard Collett (Stoke) 21-17 in a cliff hanger to come close to the elusive national singles title.

Scott, 46, was runner-up to Auckland's Tony Grantham when the championship was last held at Dunedin in 2007. He reached the semifinals a year later in Christchurch.

He added to the family bowls heritage three years ago when he won the New Zealand Community Trust club singles in Rotorua.

It is ironic that he beat Richard Collett 21-18 for that title to join cousins Terry and Jim and his father Kevin and aunt Noeleen, who had all won national singles titles before him.

Winning a title at the national open championships is the pinnacle for any bowler and Scott is just four games away from his objective.

He had an early 7-2 lead over Lawson after seven ends, but Lawson came back with a brace of twos to close the gap to one point, 7-6, after nine ends.

Scott was more accurate on the draw than Lawson and put his stamp on the game by scoring 10 shots on the next nine ends and ended the game with a three on the 20th end.

It was a more even game against Collett with both players drawing accurately. They were both prepared to play the running shot when it was needed.

Scott held a one-point, 12-11, lead after 13 ends and then put his stamp on the game by scoring six shots on the next four ends to lead 18-11.

Scott's advance to the last 16 was halted on 20 on three occasions when Collett either killed the end or added a shot himself.

The women's pairs field has been reduced to eight teams, with the favourites being World Bowls champions Jo Edwards and Val Smith, who won the pairs gold medal at Christchurch in 2008. They won the New Zealand pairs title together in 2004.

The Onehunga pair of Noreen Stratford and Raelene Castle displayed superb form in disposing of the Boyd sisters Angela and Mandy of Wellington 16-14 and Kirsten and Leigh Griffin (Victoria, Wellington) 18-15.

Stratford won the pairs title last year with Bev Crowe and Castle won the New Zealand mixed champion of champions pairs title with Mike Kernaghan in 2008.

The composite pair of world champion of champion singles gold medallist Jan Khan and daughter Stacey and the composite pair of Wynette McLachlan (Clinton) and Marilyn Paterson (Town and Country) also have a chance.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES