Bowls: Bowlers need one win to go through

JOHANNESBURG - One more win will guarantee the New Zealand pairs and triples team a semifinal spot in the world bowls championships in Johannesburg.

Both teams remained unbeaten following a series of victories yesterday.

The New Zealand pair of Paul Girdler, of Dunedin, and Sydney-based Russell Meyer, have three matches remaining in their section, but just one more victory will get them into the medal round.

They beat 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games gold medallists Australia 25-15 in their only game yesterday.

The Peter Belliss-skipped triple beat England 17-11 and Fiji 18-14 and have Australia and Israel to overcome to remain unbeaten in their section.

"One more win will get us into the semifinal," Belliss said from Johannesburg yesterday.

"We've been going good but I wish the weather would improve."

Belliss said constant rain forced the triples team to transfer to another green during their first match, against England.

"It was raining all the time. We basically played in the rain," he said.

"We had to take a break for over two hours at one stage and go back to complete the game. It's really miserable weather, cold and wet.

"The greens are very slow in these conditions."

Belliss said team contribution was the key to their performances so far.

"It's a pretty good side. Andrew [Curtain] and Rowan [Brassey] are certainly on top of their game right now and their games have allowed me to play the conversion shots at almost every end."

- NZPA