THE first round of the RSL Shield was played on Saturday at Bowral Bowling Club.

This event goes for three weeks and is sponsored by the Mittagong RSL Club.

On Saturday, the fours format was played.

Kevin Stafford, Neil Lewis, Noel Fraser and Russell Fahey won 20-19 against Jack Tonkin, Alan Berle, Garry Brown and Greg Lewis.

After 10 ends, team Lewis had shot away to a 14-6 lead and a big score looked to be coming up.

Fahey then rallied his team for a good fightback.

On the 15th end, team Fahey took the lead for the first time.

Each player in the team Fahey lifted and the score was level at 19-all with one end to play.

Team Fahey picked up one shot on the last end to win.

The shock leaders of the shield after the first round are Peter Oates, Kurt Griebenow, Ian Crowe and Ian O'Farrell.

Oates, Griebenow, Crowe and O'Farrell defeated Howard Lewis, Barry Werfel, John Layton and Clive Neutze by 32-6.

Team O'Farrell pulled off an impressive win.

After 13 ends, team O'Farrell led 26-0 and went on to score a win by 26 shots.

Another surprise result was Reg Rodwell, Bernie Michael, Bob Grover and Ashley Lewis winning 26-12 against John Edmonds, Barry O'Brien, Peter Morales and Bill Dodwell.

Team Lewis got off to a flying start and had a massive 15-4 lead at the halfway mark.

But team Dodwell fought back, but team Lewis took the match by 12 shots.

Ken Handley, Bruce Clynes, Don Coleman and Bill Meredith defeated Glenn Gliese, Brian Porter, Ken Looke and Robin Staples by 22-11.

The match was close early with the score locked at 8-all after 10 ends.

Team Meredith then pushed away for an 11-shot win.

Kel Limbrick, Mick Flynn, Brian Payne and Jeff Williams also defeated Wade Eaton, Don Weller, Keith Edwards and Cameron New by 28-16.

Team New led 15-6 after 12 ends, before team Williams took control to win by 12 shots.

• By Gordon Lewis