The men's matches were played at Corowa Civic with Ken Widdison (Corowa RSL), Ian Bilney (Corowa Civic), Ian Brimblecombe (Wangaratta), Rick Robinson (Beechworth), Tom Hynes (Yackandandah), George Peterson (Mansfield), Mason Bayliss (Wodonga) and Syd McCann (Tallangatta) all through to the quarter-finals.

YMGCR hosted the women's event with Benalla's Sharon Warfe to meet Myrtleford's Cheryl Lewis in the semi-finals, while Yackandandah's Mary Tragardh awaits the victor of Wodonga's Kylie Whitehead and Wangaratta's Peta Mattys in the other semi-final.

Whitehead, who won the World Bowls Champion of Champions singles in 2019, was pushed all the way by Chiltern veteran Isabel Edgar in the second round, but staged a late fightback.

Play continues for the men's and women's titles at YMGCR from 9.30am on Sunday.

The next rounds of the men's and women's state singles matches are also set to be played at the venue.

ALSO IN SPORT:

Meanwhile, Benalla Bowls Club has been selected to host this year's annual challenge between Ovens and Murray and Goulburn Valley on March 7.

The O and M teams are:

Women: A. Miles (skip), C. Sanders, J. Fruend, R. Hill; M. Tragardh (skip), L. Smith, A. Bounader, K. Nichols; K. Whitehead (skip), G. Banfield, R. Moore, J. Jones; J. Bartel (skip), C. Fair, S. Middleton, R. Irvine; P. Mattys (skip), K. Leask, K. Hughes, R. Smith; K. Smith (skip), J. Hermassoo, C. Reilly, E. Calder.

Men: M. Bayliss (skip), J. Rudd, P. Davies, R. Bartel; I. Brimblecombe (skip), Tim Cromie, P. McLarty, G. Sanders; R. Davies (skip), S. Widdison, A. Streltschenko, C. Langdon; J. Lefevre (skip), A. Lefevre, I. Lewis, C. Fruend; M. Szabo (skip), Tyson Cromie, S. Coulston, W. Lee; A. Pantling (skip), E. Fruend, J. Thornton, K. Cromie.

Official rink: I. Bilney (skip), N. Murrell, G. Moore, J. Fisher.

Goulburn Valley has had the upper hand in the challenge in recent years.