Bowls: Aussies take a hiding in opening test

SYDNEY - New Zealand are one test away from retaining the Transtasman Trophy after comfortably winning the opening bowls encounter against Australia 22-10 in Sydney yesterday.

The New Zealand senior men were the only group to lose, but the development men and women were comfortable winners to set up the overall victory.

Success in either the second test today or the third tomorrow will see New Zealand bring home the trophy they won in the Hutt Valley last year.

That would be a superb result against Australia, who regard themselves as unbeatable on home greens.

New Zealand led 14-2 after the morning session. The eight afternoon games were shared, encouraging the home side.

The under-30 men's competition was the most decisive in New Zealand's favour, with comfortable wins in the singles, pairs, triples and fours. The New Zealand academy women captured three of their four games.

However, the senior men's and women's series shape as an exciting ones.

The women shared their matches 2-2, but won with a differential of plus seven. The men had the same result, but a differential of minus 11 saw them go down.

- NZPA