Forsyth knocked out
The elimination of three-time champion Ali Forsyth from the men’s singles was the major talking point from the first day of the New Zealand bowls championships in Dunedin on Friday.
Forsyth, formerly of Nelson and now based at the Clayton club in Melbourne, was expected to feature prominently, but he lost his opening two games on the Andersons Bay green.
First up, Forsyth fell 21-13 to Keri Rupene (Taieri), who was a finalist in the fours the last time Dunedin hosted the championships, and then his case became terminal when Wellington gold star holder Richard Corry (Victoria) got the nod 21-20.
Forsyth was not alone in encountering troubles although most of the others overcame setbacks.
His pairs team mate, Gary Lawson (Eastbourne), after an opening win, was walloped 21-5 by Rohan Ware (Canterbury). But the maestro returned two emphatic wins after that to qualify.
Shaun Scott (North East Valley), one of the main local chances of success, was upended
21-14 in the opening round by Raymond Martin (Victoria), but Scott won the rest to get through.
Peter Belliss (Aramoho), after a
21-18 loss to Darren Broome (Hokonui), sneaked past NZ development rep Sheldon BagrieHowley (Gore) in the next round. All three players advanced.
Tony Grantham (Birkenhead) dropped his third match to past fours champion Andre Smith (Havelock).
Grantham righted the ship in the last to qualify but Smith missed out.
Defending champion Dean Elgar (West End) was among the early qualifiers, with none of his opponents getting to double figures.
Other prominent players to win three straight included Shannon McIlroy (Stoke), Richard Girvan (Nelson Bays), Michael Kernaghan (North East Valley) and promising youngsters Seamus Curtain (Stokes Valley) and Caleb Hope (Gore).
Upsets were much less common in the women’s pairs, where the feature opening game was comfortably won by Val Smith and Jo Edwards, who remained unbeaten.
They beat last season’s winners, Ashleigh Jeffcoat and Dale Rayner, 25-13.
Jeffcoat and Rayner rebounded, winning their other two games to remain in a solid position to qualify.
Three further rounds will be played on Saturday, with pairs required to win four games.
Tayla Bruce and Katelyn Inch, despite a tough draw, won all three, including a 19-15 triumph in the last game over the Boyd sisters, Angela and Mandy, who finished with two wins.
Canadian international Kelly McKerihen, playing with former Blackjack Jan Shirley, opened with three impressive wins, including 25-8 over Nicole Toomey and 17-9 over the previously unbeaten NZ development player Natasha Russell.
Other pairs to complete a perfect opening day were those skipped by Sandra Keith, Amy McIlroy, Bev Morel and Sarah Scott.