Bowls: Youngsters shine in women's pairs

Selina Goddard poses for a portrait after being named in the Commonwealth Games team. Photo / Getty Images

The younger brigade has taken charge in the women's singles at the Bowls New Zealand National Championships in New Plymouth.

The four semifinalists have been found with two young guns and two more experienced bowlers among the remaining contenders.

Auckland's Selina Goddard, who has represented the Blackjacks previously but missed out on the World Championships squad, will face current Blackjack Katelyn Inch of Oxford WMC in the first semifinal in a battle of youth.

Goddard swept past Dale Rayner of Johnsonville, Natarsha Grimshaw of Papakura and Naenae's Lisa White on Wednesday to book her semifinal spot. Inch accounted for Blackjacks teammate Kirsten Edwards, impressive youngster Ashleigh Jeffcoat and veteran Blackjack Val Smith on her way to the semifinals.

On the other side of the draw the experienced Reen Stratford of the Aramoho club and Catherine Bien of St Heliers will fight for a spot in the gold medal match. Stratford, a former women's pairs champion, beat Sarah Scott, Pukekohe's Leeane Poulson and local player Yvonne Hardy while Bien took care of impressive youngster Tayla Bruce, Leigh Griffin and Barbara Batley on her way to the final four.

The impressive run of father and son combination of Ali and Neville Forsyth in the men's pairs has continued Wednesday as they eased into the quarterfinals.

The Forsyth's enjoyed wins over Takaro's Mark Noble and Barry Wynks, who had earlier knocked out Richard Girvan and Blake Signal, as well as the Craig Johns and Midge Shaw combinations.

Joining the Forsyth's in the final is veteran New Zealand rep Gary Lawson, who is playing alongside Nev Rodda this week. They had comfortable wins in the first two rounds of post-section play before they prevailed in a tight 16-15 tussle with Rob Ashton and Petar Sain of Carlton Cornwall to book a place in the final eight.

Also through to the quarterfinals are Colin Gawith and Karl Garrett, Chris Le Lievre and Roger Stevens, Scott Harrison and David Ball, Kevin and Paddy Deegan, Ray Park and Alan Dickson and Victoria's Laurie Guy and Jeremy Kydd.

Thursday's action sees the start of the men's and women's fours post-section play.