IRELAND'S Margaret Johnston, defending her women's World Bowls singles crown at Leamington Spa, near Birmingham, crashed to a shock 11-25 defeat at the hands of New Zealand's Judy Howat last night.

Johnston, who must win a round-robin league of 16 players to reach Saturday's final, started her campaign in fine style, blitzing Namibia's Jean Joubert 25-8 and Zambia's Matimba Like 25-5 in her first two games to surge to the top of the table.

Then Johnston, who had teamed up with Blackrock's Phillis Nolan to win the pairs title for a record third successive time on Saturday, saw her magic touch desert her against Howat.

Nolan and Johnston's 21-19 victory over Jersey's Jean Jones and Sheila Syvret in the pairs final created history.