Bowls: De Faria into last eight at the Dominion

Grant Hassall in Auckland

The West End duo of Craig De Faria and John Roberts are into the last eight of the men’s pairs at the Dominion bowls championships in Auckland.

The decorated combination, which won the Taranaki Christmas pairs title a fortnight ago, eased through their three post section games on Saturday to make Sunday morning’s quarterfinals at Browns Bay.

Roberts and De Faria will meet Black Jack Sheldon Bagrie-Howley (Gore) and Aidan Zittersteijn. Zittersteijn, who made a name for himself at Paritutu and especially representing the Cook Islands at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, is now based in Melbourne.

On Saturday, Roberts and De Faria beat former Southland rugby coach Bob Telfer (Takapuna) 21-7, Michael Carmody (Auckland) 22-9 and Steve Hoeft (Pt Chevalier) 17-12.

Taranaki almost had a second pair into the quarterfinals. Okato’s Hamish Kape and Kaylin Huwyler, after three wins – including a first-up victory over former Black Jack Raymond Martin (Victoria) – were nosed out 16-15 by the Northland team of Mark Preedy and Carlson Barnett.

There was an early exit from post section for Rahotu’s Nathan Goodin and Camron Horo, losing their opening game by one point.

In the women’s singles, Paritutu’s Briar Atkinson was eliminated in the second game. She went down 21-18 to another past international Wendy Jensen. The talented Jensen advanced through the next two rounds to book a place in the semifinals, where she rates a strong chance.

Tina Atkinson-Watt, Taranaki’s other qualifier in the women’s singles, lost 21-14 to Esther Eu (Blockhouse Bay) in the first round.

Previously there had been no joy for Oakura’s Kurt Smith in the Para singles, after he dropped his opening two qualifying games to be eliminated.

All three events will be finalised on Sunday, before the men’s singles, women’s pairs and Para pairs start on Monday.