KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's most experienced international women's bowler Sharon Sims yesterday struck an important blow for the Black Jacks just when it seemed that one of the finals in the New Zealand Open at Henderson would be an all-Australian occasion.
With Clare Duke and Julie Keegan having gained one of the final pairs spots with a comfortable win over Reen Stratford and Hetty Bolscher, Australians Karen Murphy and Linsey Armitage looked to be heading to the other. They came to the last end one up on Sims and her lead, national development squad member Mary Campbell.
But after Campbell had drawn the first shot, Sims, with her second last bowl, calmly added the other to shut out another chance for Australia to gain further confidence going into the world championships in Christchurch in January.
New Zealand coach Dave Edwards said it had been a timely win by Sims and Campbell as far as squad morale was concerned.
"We know the Australians are going to be a big threat, they always are," Edwards said. "But we're really pleased with our preparation and the emphasis has been in what we have been achieving in Christchurch and the test matches we've had there."
Sims and Campbell making the women's pairs final was not New Zealand's only positive yesterday.
Andrew Todd, one of the male Black Jacks for the world championships, made the singles semfinals, along with two Australians, Scott Caundle and Gerard Beath, and a local surprise, Barclay Lee, from the St Heliers club.
Jo Edwards beat Lorna Trigwell to be the lone New Zealander in the women's singles semifinals. Ali Forsyth and Tony Grantham last night completed a memorable day by making today's final after earlier making the pairs final. In the fours semifinals Forsyth skipped his four to a win over Gary Lawson's national side.
The other finalist is Brent Turner's Browns Bay four which beat Hillsboro's Chris Lowe four on an extra end.
The women's fours final today will be between Edwards' New Zealand four, who won a tense semifinal against the Stratford-skipped Auckland representative, and an international composite skipped by Trigwell.
