Bowls: Beaten Lawson calls it a disgrace

Gary Lawson rides a drive down the green. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Canterbury's Gary Lawson bowed out of the singles yesterday in his earliest career exit from a national bowls championships.

While saying he was not disappointed, Lawson described the Miramar green, which he played on for singles qualifying, as a "disgrace" and said he had not adapted to the conditions.

The reigning Asia-Pacific triples gold medallist won his first two games in the morning but lost to Phil Edwards of Paekakariki 21-15 and Gordon Powell of Taita 21-20 in the next two.

"It was a tough day at the office. I was fighting the green all day and I never picked it," Lawson, an eight-time national champion, said.

The Sydney-based Lawson said the Miramar Bowls Club green should not have been used.

"It is difficult when you get beaten but at the end of the day, if I'd won, I would be saying the same thing - it was not level, it was bumpy, it was not up to scratch and, to be fair, it shouldn't have been used.

"I have been in the United Kingdom where the greens are supposed to be bad but this is as bad as anything I have ever played on in my life.

"I'm not disappointed with losing and I can accept that - but the players should expect to play on a green that you can play bowls on - it was a paddock."

National championships greens convenor Denis Hicks said greens were assessed in October and conditions could change in the space of 10 weeks.

"It [the Miramar green] wouldn't be a green that we would have chosen to put finals events or post-section play on."

Competitors needed to win at least three of their four matches to make the cut.

Lawson's pairs partner Rowan Brassey had no trouble with his matches, showing off the form that has made him a two-time world champion.

Fellow-Commonwealth Games representative Jamie Hill (Pt Chevalier) joined Brassey in the post sections after winning three from three.

Defending champion Dwayne Cameron (Manurewa) lost his first game but had no problems with his next three, winning convincingly 21-1, 21-17 and 21-13.

Asia Pacific triples gold medallist Richard Girvan (Taren Point) also had a rocky start, losing his second match 21-13 to Scott Curran (Silverdale) before making the cut with two straight wins.

Girvan's pairs partner, nine-times national champion Danny O'Connor (Okahu Bay), retired after twisting his hip in his first match.

Last year's singles champion, Ali Forsyth (United), also made the cut.

- NZPA