Gary Lawson. Photo / Mark Mitchell
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Shannon McIlroy and Gary Lawson remain New Zealand's only title hopes in the triples at the Australian Open bowls tournament in Shepparton, Victoria.
After surviving a tiebreaker in their first match, McIlroy, Lawson and their Canadian skip, Ryan Bester, beat another two Australian combinations to reach the quarter-finals.
That match will be against Australians Rob Thompson, Mark Berghofer and Mark Jacobsen today.
New Zealand's two official national entries - Andrew Todd, Ali Forsyth and Richard Girvan in the men, and Mary Campbell, Jo Babich and Jo Edwards in the women - are out.
The New Zealand women were tipped over 3-9, 8-6, 2-3 by Australians Marjorie Paterson, Janice Ebers and Gloria Clifton.
Jo Edwards remains alive in the women's singles, having little trouble advancing to the quarter-finals after beating Australian Anne Miles 8-4, 6-4 in the third round.
Edwards, the runner-up in 2007, had earlier beaten Australians Linda Warburton and Carole McDonald and has yet to lose a set.
Her quarter-final is against Australian-based Scotswoman Kay Moran.
New Zealand did not fare well in the men's pairs and singles.
Forsyth and Lawson were both eliminated in their first singles matches, a fate the combination of Campbell and Babich also suffered in the women's pairs.
Defending men's pairs champions Lawson and Bester tumbled out in their second match, leaving Girvan and Todd as New Zealand's remaining hopes.
They overcame a tough obstacle to beat top-rated Australians Anthony Fantini and Nathan Rice 10-5, 5-8, 5-0 in a last 32 thriller and next meet Ian McMah and Mark Casey in the third round.
- NZPA
