Most of the big names made it through Saturday’s section play in the Speight’s Victoria Women’s Invitation 2-4-2 Pairs setting up some exciting clashes for Sunday. The fancied combination of Lui Hare (Johnsonville) and Linda Ralph (Auckland) survived a scare after going down to last year’s runner-ups Tui Opai (Lyall Bay) and Judy Howat (The Park) in the second game, but fought back to beat NZ Club Singles finalist Tanya Wheeler (Petone Central) paired with Sarah Taukamo (Victoria) in the last match to make it through to the main event. Wheeler and Taukamo also qualified thanks to a large win over Opai and Howat in the first round.
2011 champions Kirsty and Leigh Griffin lost their last match to Canterbury’s Val Symes and Rosemary Finch but were almost assured of qualifying going into that match due a massive differential. That win progressed the Canterbury pair to the main event at the expense of Massey Avenue’s Wendy Mackie and Tricia Bruce who had earlier given them a convincing beating. Other favoured combinations made it through to the last eight with ease including 2009 champions Helen King (Victoria) and Karen Coombes (Canterbury), Wynette McGlachlan (South Otago) and Nina De Munnik (Victoria), Serena Mathews and Tayla Bruce (Canterbury), and Patricia Wishnowsky (Petone Central) and Jo Climo (Titahi Bay).
Results can be found on the Invitation 2-4-2 Pairs competition page.