Bowls: Brassey stars, but Aussies take first test

SYDNEY - Gary Lawson ended his five-year absence from international play with an emphatic display in the first of three transtasman bowls tests yesterday, although the Australians took overall honours in the four-team series.

While the New Zealand men won their rubber 2 1/2-1 1/2, the Australians cleaned up in the women's and both the men's and women's development matches.

Their overall winning margin was 11 1/2 matches to 4 1/2.

Lawson skipped the triple to an 18-9 win in the morning, but was even more dominant in the afternoon when the four crushed Australia 25-7.

Lawson, who fell out of favour with bowls officials in 1997 and has carried a "bad boy" tag ever since, could not have been more in favour yesterday and was clearly delighted to be back.

"You couldn't ask for much more. We played against one of the best skips in the world [Rex Johnston] and the boys played brilliantly," Lawson said. "There was a bit of pressure coming back in, but they made it easy for me."

"We all played our part. If one bloke missed, the next guy didn't, and that's what it's all about."

Russell Meyer was beaten 21-16 in the singles by Steve Glasson and Paul Girdler and Meyer drew the pairs match.

The women's team failed to secure a win.

- NZPA