Bowls: New champs set for National Intercentre

2017 will see new Centre's crowned winners, as both defending champions have left the race for victory.

Defending Women's Champions (Northland) started day two continuing their winning streak with Marney Jones and Leanne Stewart (pairs) having two great wins over Auckland (22-8) and Hawkes Bay (33-8). These wins along with others from the Northland side saw the team remain ahead of the pack and comfortably through to the quarterfinals.

Nevertheless, their luck ran out Saturday afternoon falling short to Waikato in both the Singles (13-25) and Pairs (18-25) and missing out on a place in the semifinal.

Blackjack Kirsten Edwards helped keep Nelson women's chances of the National title alive only going down in one qualifying game against Diane Patterson 22-23. Unluckily, Edwards also lost her quarterfinal game 24-25 against Southland's Bronwyn Stevens giving Southland the go ahead for the semi-final on Sunday.

The Auckland men's chances of defending their title came to a rapid end, only managing one win to the pairs on day two. The super city team finished in fifth place in their section closely behind Wellington and South Otago.

Former Blackjack Gary Lawson and pairs partner Stephen Ditford has helped their Canterbury team through to the Semi-finals winning 18-12 against Marlborough.

Canterbury will be looking to go a step further this year, following their runner up status in 2016.

The match of the day was between Blackjacks Shannon McIlroy (Nelson) and Mike Kernaghan (Dunedin). After seven ends the rivals were tied up at 7 piece, however singles world champions McIlroy, pulled away eventually winning 25-14.

The win was not enough to see the Nelson side progress to the semifinals, with losses against Dunedin in both the pairs (9-17) and fours (12-13).

On Sunday the Semi-finals will kick off at Wilton Bowling Club at 8:30am, followed by the Final.