Bond and Murray boost Rowing NZ fortunes

In a boost to the New Zealand rowing team's fortunes, the men's pair of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray have eased into the final at the world championships. Photo / Getty Images.

In a boost to the New Zealand rowing team's fortunes, the men's pair of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray have eased into the final at the world championships.

They've held off second-placed France by 3.58s to win their semi-final. After establishing a lead of a length by halfway, they maintained and then extended their advantage through to the finish.

The result means they now get to challenge for a record 16 straight international regatta wins on Saturday.

The women's pair of Rebecca Scown and Kayla Pratt finished a comfortable third behind Britain and the United States to progress in the stronger semi-final.

The lightweight women's double of Lucy Strack and Julia Edward have also advanced with third in their semi-final behind Italy and the United States.

Lightweight single sculler Louise Ayling missed a place in the final, finishing fifth.

Meanwhile Mahe Drysdale has withdrawn from the men's single scull C/D semi-finals due to his rib injury.

Drysdale was to race this afternoon but found the fractured rib he received in a bike accident last week was further aggravated during his exit from the quarter-finals.

He woke up this morning to find muscles surrounding the right side of his chest in spasm.

Drysdale can no longer move his right arm freely; it's the first time he has withdrawn from a regatta.

Andrew Alderson travelled to South Korea courtesy of Rowing New Zealand's principal partner Bankstream