"Jack" said the pair had only being going out since October and had never entered a pool tournament before.
"We just sort of went down the pub a few times and had a go, and then Bernie's parents were coming over from Ireland for a month and we decided to enter them in the bowls at the Masters," she explained.
"And we thought we may as well play something, too."
Duffy said his parents had never played bowls before their trip to Wanganui.
"Out of 12 ends dad won three and I think mum won two. When you consider they were up against people who have been playing for 15 or 20 years and the standard was quite high, they actually did quite well."
The Papakura pool pair were the first at the venue yesterday morning, only to be told the start had been delayed until 10am.
"That's fine by us, it means we can practise. We'll need it, because some of these guys are really good," Duffy said.
Duffy and Miller's first round robin match was a spirited affair against seasoned Petone players Kim Bulwer and Lance Smith in which Duffy sank six balls in quick succession after the break. Smith sank another four, leaving "Jack" with the No5 to sink but she just missed the pocket.
"I was trying to doubt my abilities. I didn't doubt myself enough, that's why it didn't go in," she reasoned.
The blokes from Petone went on to win and after another two tough matches were able to progress.
