Bowls: Castle leaves it to last bowl

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Marlene Castle remains the mistress of suspense.

Chasing three wins from three games against Australian Karen Murphy in the transtasman test series at Pakuranga yesterday afternoon, Castle did it the hard way.

Down 7-4 and not in it until 14-14 after 17 ends, the New Zealander surged to 20-16 in the race to 21.

Murphy, who had held Castle, the 2000 world indoor champion, to 21-19 over 29 ends in the morning after losing Tuesday's first test 21-17, scored four successive singles for 20-20 after holding the two shots she needed to win on the 27th end.

On the last, Murphy seized the initiative and still held shot and the match with just Castle's last bowl to play.

Castle was in two minds as she contemplated the draw or drive. She chose the former and played it pinpoint perfectly to take the jack, the shot and an amazing 21-20 victory.

"I wasn't sure which way to go," said Castle after retaining her perfect record. "I had got close to drawing shot with my third bowl, so decided to go again, even though it was on a hand I hadn't played much."

Castle's effort was not enough, however, to stop the Australians.

The visitors made certain of winning back the women's trophy by completing a 4-2 sweep in the second test, with Castle's singles triumphs New Zealand's only successes.

While New Zealand were beaten three straight in the fours, selector/manager Ann Muir was happy with the team's fightback in yesterday's second clash.

Whipped 20-2 in the morning, the Anne Lomas-skipped four held the strong Australian quartet to 13-12 in the afternoon - and that only after Australia had picked up two shots on each of the last two ends when trailing 12-9.

"That was an improved performance for sure," said Muir. "There was no thought of changing our line-ups. We have been up against some very strong combinations. Their pairs skip, Roma Dunn, has been playing out of her tree."

Elsewhere, New Zealand enjoyed a memorable day, with the senior and development men's teams continuing on their winning way to wrap up their three-test series, as have the women's development team.

The Peter Belliss-skipped men's four lost for the first time, 17-14, in their second game yesterday but only after scoring six shots on the last end.

"It was disappointing to lose but for three-quarters of the game, they got more bowls close than we did," said Belliss.

"While we wanted to win, it was more important we protected the differential after winning all three games in the morning."

Andre Smith continued his winning run in his international debut - unbeaten in three matches as skip of the triple and four - as part of the triumphant development team.

New Zealand go into today's third test ahead 36-24 in the race for the overall Transtasman Trophy.