Big guns fall by wayside in section play
REPUTATIONS counted for little in section play of the North East Valley 10,000 over the weekend.
Among those to make early exits were past champions Shaun Scott (Cromwell) and Mike Kernaghan (North East Valley), Black Jack Shayne Sincock (Canterbury) and Bowls Dunedin player of the year and semifinalist last year Keanu Darby.
While not progressing from section play, Darby can boast he claimed the scalp of defending champion Shannon McIlroy (Stoke, Nelson) in a tightly contested fifthround match 2523.
McIlroy’s only loss provided a huge wakeup call as he then topped his pool to automatically qualify for quarterfinal play and avoid yesterday’s postsection knockout stage.
One player to gain a second chance by progressing through to the postsection playoffs on differential was last year’s runnerup, Seamus Curtin (Stokes Valley, Wellington), who was drawn against Tom Taiaroa (Kaikorai).
However, Curtin’s reprieve was shortlived, as Taiaroa displayed little respect for his opponent’s reputation as he jumped out to a handy early lead and then withstood a fightback in the middle stages to progress to the quarterfinal stage with a 2517 victory.
Heading the remaining pools to qualify automatically for today’s quarterfinals were Murray Scott (Nelson), New Zealand emerging player Sheldon BagrieHowley (Gore) and Black Jack Andrew Kelly (Canterbury).
Among the players to survive to bowl another day after the the postsection playoffs were 2018
New Zealand development player Finbar McGuigan (Stokes Valley, Wellington), who made it all oneway traffic in defeating Colin Wheeler (North East Valley) 2512. McGuighan will play BagrieHowley in the quarterfinals this morning.
Caleb Hope (Gore) and Raika Gregory (Waikato) had a dingdong battle, Hope making it through with a hardfought 2522 victory to earn the right to meet Scott.
In the remaining knockout match, Andrew McLean (Taieri) and Joko Susilo (North East Valley) met in a rain interrupted encounter, taking advantage of a flying start to beat Susilo 2517 victory.
However, McLean has a mammoth task awaiting him this morning as he must overcome defending champion and world singles champion McIlroy.
Play gets under way at the North East Valley Bowling Club at 8.30am.
The quarterfinals are followed by semifinals and then the final which is expected to get under way at 1.30pm.