McIlroy, Lawson crash out in men’s singles

Defending champion Andrew Kelly had to call on all of his experience to survive the opening three rounds of post section play in the men’s singles at the New Zealand bowls championships in Auckland yesterday.

After a relatively early exit from the pairs, Kelly, a current member of the Blackjacks, is striving to become the first player since Ali Forsyth in 2003-04 to win back-to-back singles titles.

Kelly drew a tough opening opponent, Lance Pascoe, who on Tuesday won the men’s pairs.

Kelly sneaked through 21-19. In the second game Kelly was made to work by Hamish Kape, but prevailed 21-17.

Kelly’s next victim was North Harbour rep Bart Robertson. The Canterbury player got home there 21-18.

It was smoother sailing in the last 16 when Kelly ended the terrific run of Masterton’s Matthew Day 21-9.

Kelly will play Sheldon BagrieHowley in the quarterfinals after the Southlander won 21-7 over Waikato’s Steve Liddington in the fourth round.

The other quarterfinals sees former international Mike Galloway meet Manawatu’s Tim Hook,

Rory Soden play Raika Gregory and Finbar McGuigan square off against Keanu Darby.

Galloway scored his fourth win of the day over fellow Aucklander Jeremy Brosnan 21-10 while Hook edged Laurie Guy 21-20 with his last bowl.

Soden went through 17-16 over Darren Goodin – the worst case of time limit at these championships – while Gregory’s fourth win came 21-10 at the expense of Richard Hocking.

The remaining last 16 matches saw McGuigan get home 21-10 against Vai Gafa, while Darby beat David Eades 21-16.

Eades had eliminated Gary Lawson 21-10 in the prior round, while both Mike Kernaghan and Shannon McIlroy exited before lunch.

Kernaghan lost in round one,

21-18, to Lance Tasker. McIlroy went down 21-12 to John O’Shea in the second game.

The semifinalists had been found in the women’s pairs – and a high- quality field still remains.

Today’s semis will see Selina Smith – who won the title last year leading for Katelyn Inch – and Dale Rayner meet Tayla Bruce and Clare Hendra, while Lisa Prideaux and Val Smith will play St Heliers’ Paula Kempthorne and Sue Curran.

Selina Smith and Rayner, the

2017 winner recorded three comfortable wins, including a 23-11 effort over Takapuna’s Adele Ineson and Robynne Walker in the last eight.

Bruce and Hendra, the 2020 runners-up, came through a tough part of the draw. They ended the hopes of a third pairs title for Angela and Mandy Boyd 16-13 in the last round.

Lisa Prideaux and Val Smith, who tasted victory on the same green two years ago, advanced with a 16-12 win over locals Jacqueline Broderson and Karen Hema.

Kempthorne and Curran beat Howick’s Rosemary Ackerley and Cecilie McIntyre 24-7 in the fourth round.