Smith makes early exit

The elimination of the 2008 world singles champion Val Smith by talented Wellingtonian Nicole Toomey was the main talking point of the opening post-section rounds in the women’s singles at the New Zealand bowls championships in Auckland yesterday.

Toomey was a member of the victorious Stokes Valley Bowls3Five side last year, a win which is clearly adding to her confidence. She previously was a beaten finalist in the pairs at the national tournament.

After opening with a 21-19 win over Lauren Mills, Toomey ousted Smith 20-16, the 21⁄2-hour time limit being invoked as organisers attempted to push through four rounds on the day. The final is scheduled for this afternoon.

Saturday’s weather resulted in the decision for all players to be included in the post-section draw after some had completed only one game.

Smith was not the only big name to fall in the opening two rounds.

Both of the finalists from two years ago also exited early.

Debbie White fell in the first round 21-20 to Lisa Parlane, a highly successful competitor in Auckland and North Harbour for a number of years.

Selina Smith got through her opening match, but was then beaten 21-12 by Linda Ralph.

Ralph had squeezed past Doreen Jensen by one shot in the opening round and then beat the promising Tannith Potgieter in the third game.

Other leading lights to survive the first two games were Dale Rayner, Mandy Boyd and Clare Hendra. Boyd cruised home 21-2 in a third-round clash on the carpet at Glendowie and was playing Dianne Patterson in the last 16.

Saturday’s wet weather saw the qualification criteria in the men’s pairs reduced to three wins from five rounds.

That saw more teams advance to postsection and inevitably nearly all of the big names came through.

Perhaps the biggest casualties were the North Harbour duo of former international Kerry Chapman and Adam Haywood.

They drew the toughest section and were beaten by both Ian Fisher and Steve Arms (Howick) plus Jordan King and Chris Lowe (Mangere) on Saturday.

After two wins, though, they were eliminated 16-4 by the Canterbury pair of Andrew Kelly and Gary Lawson.

The latter duo, both current Blackjacks internationals, won four matches in section play, but had a hiccup when they were beaten by King and Lowe, the 2019 champions, in one game.

Post-section play today will whittle the field down to just eight pairs.