Bowls: Upset win for NZ bowler

SHEFFIELD - A traditional Maori challenge inspired Richard Corry to score the upset of the tournament in eliminating Scotland's multiple world champion Richard Corsie 9-3, 2-8, 2-0 in the first round of the professional bowls open tournament in Sheffield, England.

Corry, assisted by RNZAF colleague Ra Tahi-Martin, delighted the crowd with a haka before the singles clash in one of the major events in world bowls.

The North Harbour player then dominated the first set to win 9-3.

The Scotsman won 8-2 in the second set. With the pressure on in the three-end tie-breaker, Corry twice drew the shot in difficult situations to secure the best win of his career, and his first ranking points on the World Bowls Tour.

Corry is following in the footsteps of his uncle Ian Dickison, who was one of the best performed New Zealand players on the full-size indoor surfaces in Britain during the 1980s.

Corry will meet world No 11, Hong Kong's Noel Kennedy, tonight for a place in the quarter-finals.