Carlton-Cornwall's Karen Hema, one of Auckland bowls' most bubbly players, and her composite four made the last eight in the national women's championships at Browns Bay yesterday, but did it the hard way.

Mike Kernaghan, New Zealand's bowler of the moment, confirmed yesterday he was unavailable for national selection because Bowls New Zealand will not select the player he regards as the country's best skip, Gary Lawson.

Seamus Curtin, 14, was among a group of Wellington teenagers who shattered any notion that bowls is a game solely for the aged and infirm.

Rob Ashton overcame a sluggish start and a tough opponent in Canterbury's Alvin Gardiner to achieve a notable first in the final of the New Zealand Open bowls men's singles at Henderson yesterday.

Rob Ashton, formerly of Wellington but recently moved to Auckland, put himself in line to not only defend his pairs title but also to win the singles championship at the New Zealand Open at Henderson.

Leading Auckland women's bowler Karen de Jongh suffered further heartbreak at the New Zealand Open at Henderson yesterday when she and her experienced pairs partner Bev Crowe narrowly missed making the final.

Qureshi Ayub Mohammed and Ali Shan Muzahir have become famous for something other than their curry: they are Pakistan's first Commonwealth Games lawn bowlers.

New Zealand's bowls team's preparation for the biggest challenge they'll face at the Commonwealth Games moves up a gear this weekend.

A group of bowlers have been banned from playing anywhere in the country - until fees taken by a person are fully repaid.

New Zealand's top lawn bowlers will try to get a handle on the slow greens expected at the Commonwealth Games by heading to the Northern Hemisphere this weekend.

Two of New Zealand's greatest lawn bowlers - Peter Belliss and Rowan Brassey - will be chasing titles at the national championships starting tomorrow.

Bowls NZ says the Auckland Bowling Club is among just a minority in the sport to persist with single-sex membership.

Bowling clubs are hungry for new blood as membership numbers dwindle