Bowls: More medals for NZers at world champs

8.15am

New Zealand doubled their medal haul at the men's world bowls championships in Ayr, Scotland, today.

The team lifted their bounty to four medals when Russell Meyer in singles and Gary Lawson's fours combination each secured a bronze medal.

Meyer's bronze is only the second New Zealand singles medal in 10 attempts after Peter Belliss won the title 20 years ago in Scotland.

With the pairs bronze and triples silver from the first week of championships, New Zealand leave her with a medal in each discipline, the first time a New Zealand team have achieved such a feat.

Meyer closed his singles championship round robin with a 21-11 win over Jersey and a 21-7 victory over Malaysia to finish second in the pool and claim an automatic bronze.

Lawson's four, including Sean Johnson, Paul Girdler and Rowan Brassey, beat South Africa 25-16 in morning play, claiming threes on each of the last three ends to move from 16-16 to 25-16, and set up a showdown with unbeaten Ireland.

They couldn't repeat at effort against Jim Baker's Irish side after conceding the early ends.

The mountain was too high after the New Zealander slipped to 2-14 down at the halfway point and, although five consecutive singles closed the gap to 7-14, a five to Ireland ended their revival.

New Zealand manager Peter Shaw had mixed emotions about the colouring of the team's medals.

"It was a team goal for each us to take medals, and we're delighted to do that," he said.

"At the same time we had expectations of taking some world titles, and so in that respect we're also disappointed.

"It's our job in management now to lift the team for the playoff matches."

Shaw refers to the possibility of taking the team prize, the Leonard Trophy, which New Zealand have never won.

They are in a direct battle with Scotland, with the two nations level on points after the first week.

All the playoff games for both countries are vital to the outcome and it could even come down to shots differential to separate the two contenders.

Meyer will play Fijian Caucau Turagebeci, at his sixth world in the playoff for third and fourth while Lawson faces England for the third and fourth placings.

New Zealand results:

Championship round four

Singles: RUSSELL MEYER (NZ) 21 Allan Quemard (Jersey) 11, MEYER (NZ) 21 Mohammed Affendy Tan Abdullah (Malaysia) 7.

Fours: Sean Johnson, Paul Girdler, Rowan Brassey and Gary Lawson (NZ) 25 Eric Johannes, Mike Steyn, Gerry Baker and Neil Burkett (SOUTH AFRICA) 16, NZ 11 Johnathan Ross, Noel Graham, Neil Booth and Jim Baker (Ireland) 19.

- NZPA