14 Jan 2009

Defending champs knocked out at bowls nationals

5:48 am on 14 January 2009

The defending champions have been knocked out of the fours at the National Open Bowls Championships in Auckland.

Ryan Bester lost to Cabramatta clubmate Peter Belliss, while Jo Babich, of the Carlton-Cornwall club, lost to Mangere's Emma Waerehu.

The other major upset came in the downfall of Gary Lawson's four, although he was always going to have a tough encounter against the newly crowned pairs champion Ray Ashton of Johnsonville.