Bowls: Kernaghan survives as big names fall

Mike Kernaghan.

Defending champion Mike Kernaghan has survived a big-name culling in the men's singles at the National Bowls Championships in Christchurch.

Former world champion Richard Girven as well as New Zealand squad members Blake Signal, Andrew Kelly and Tony Grantham have missed out on a place in the last 16.

Meanwhile New Zealand pairs combination of Joe Edwards and Val Smith sailed through to the post section unbeaten.

Play in the men's singles resumes this morning as the field is whittled down to the final two.

The post section of women's singles gets under way, while the doubles have a day off.