New Zealand's seven-match winning streak in the men's pairs came to an abrupt end at the hands of Malaysia in the world bowls championships in Christchurch today.
Going into this morning's game at the Fendalton green, New Zealand's pairing of Gary Lawson and Russell Meyer were unbeaten, butthey stumbled against a strong combination in Safuan Said and Fairul Izwan Abd Muin, and were down 14-3 after 12 ends.
Lawson and Meyer made a remarkable comeback bid, picking up a five on the 16th end to come within three shots of Malaysia after Lawson expertly picked off a Malaysian bowl sitting on the jack.
Needing four shots to draw on the last end, the Black Jacks managed just one, to go down 16-13.
Lawson admitted they were "a bit loose" at the start but conceded the Malaysians played "outstanding" bowls.
"They played good and got everything they went for," he told NZPA.
"I had a chance in the last end to draw another couple and missed out."
Lawson said he didn't really want to be playing the sort of risky shot that led to the five that brought them right back into the match, "but at the end of the day when you get behind, you've got no choice".
Having dropped only the one game, Lawson and Meyer are ahead of the field on differential, with Malaysia also having dropped a game and Australia losing twice.
"We're not far off the mark," Lawson said. "We're just not quite as good as we have been.
"Having said that, they were outstanding I thought."
Black Jacks coach Dave Edwards viewed the loss as "just a little speed bump" along the road.
Lawson and Meyer were aware they were "running at 85 per cent today" and not on top of their game.
"Better to lose now than in the knockout stages," Edwards said.
With the women's fours logging a 16-16 draw with Malaysia, it proved the strength of the "up and coming" team in world bowls and their fulltime professional players.
"They're always going to be good," Edwards said. "We knew there were going to be two tough challenges this morning."
In other New Zealand results after the eighth round this morning, women's singles player Val Smith beat Karin Byars, of Swaziland, 21-13, and Richard Girvan's men's triples combination overcame Canada 18-15.
