It was Craig McCaw's day. He toppled one of the giants of New Zealand bowls in the men's singles.
McCaw (Kaikorai) caused a major upset when he outclassed Black Jack Shannon McIlroy (Stoke) 21-9 in the first round of post-section play at the New Zealand bowls championships yesterday.
McCaw (47), a Palmerston electrician, read the North East Valley green better and raced to an early lead that McIlroy was not able to peg back.
He led 9-2 after seven ends, 12-5 after 13 and then consolidated his position by scoring eight shots on the next five ends to lead 20-5.
McIlroy scored a four on the next end but it was too little and too late for the Stoke bowler who won a bronze medal in the singles at the 2012 World Bowls in Adelaide.
McCaw (47), who has played bowls for 27 years and has won five Bowls Dunedin titles, had a sensible approach to the day.
''I went out last night and had a few beers to see what would happen and felt relaxed this morning,'' he said.
''I had the edge from the start and was able to bring it home.''
McCaw made a few telling upshots early in the game and was consistent on the draw. He also drew the bonus shots that added to the count.
McCaw, a member of the Bowls Dunedin team that won the national sevens title last season, was equally convincing in his second game when he beat Bill Clements (Alexandra) 21-9. Clements has won 64 Otago Central titles.
But the third game of the day was a step too far for McCaw who was beaten 21-17 by Trevor Kennet (Leeston).
Ali Forsyth (Havelock) won the big game of the day when he beat 1984 World Bowls singles champion Peter Belliss (Aramoho) 21-19 in a cliffhanger.
Forsyth (33), a member of the Black Jacks, took command early and led 9-1 after six ends.
However, Belliss used his vast experience to get back into the game in the middle stages by scoring 12 shots from the seventh to the 15th ends to lead 13-11.
Belliss had the game in his grasp when he led 19-13 after 20 ends but Forsyth scored eight unanswered points on the last five ends to win the game.
Belliss was more accurate on the short ends but when Forsyth got hold of the jack he played long ends and it gave him the advantage.
Forsyth won a nailbiter over his Havelock clubmate Andre Smith 21-20 in the third round and reached the last eight when he beat Colin Wheeler (North East Valley) 21-8.
Paddy Stewart (Rangiora) caused a big upset when he beat Gary Lawson (Victoria) 21-13 to make the last eight and Gary Watson (Nelson) beat Black Jack Tony Grantham (Birkenhead) 21-15. Black Jack squad member Blake Signal (Stoke) beat Trevor Kennett (Leeston) 21-3. Sean Ingham (Broadbeach) beat former champion Peter Sain (Carlton-Cornwall) 21-16.
Three Otago bowlers reached the last eight. Andy McLean (North East Valley) continued his brilliant form to beat former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Mike Kernaghan (Kaikorai) 21-13
The super fit Robbie Thomson (Fairfield) beat Robert Wilson (Clutha Valley) 21-9 and Kerry Becks (Kaikorai) beat Tony Gareija (Carlton-Cornwall) 21-10.
The favourites for the women's pairs are last year's champions Serena Matthews and Sandra Keith (Dunsandel) and the international pair of Val Smith and Jo Edwards (United, Nelson) who won a silver medal at the 2012 World Bowls. Ann Muir (Kensington) and Dunedin's Carolyn Crawford (St Clair) have also reach the top eight.
All Games today will be played on the Taieri headquarters greens.
The rain interrupted games in the men's pairs semifinals will also be completed today.
