Bowls: Double medal grab for New Zealand

7.50am

New Zealand have guaranteed medals after the triples and pairs teams went unbeaten at the World Bowls Championships in Ayr, Scotland today.

Sean Johnson, Rowan Brassey and Gary Lawson will take on hosts Scotland in Saturday's triples final after wins over the Philippines and Kenya.

The pair of Russell Meyer and Paul Girdler came agonisingly close to doubling New Zealand joy before being forced to settle for a bronze medal, repeating their achievement from four years ago.

A win over South Africa in morning play had set up a final round pairs showdown against Jim Baker's Ireland, with New Zealand needing to win by seven shots to make the gold medal playoff.

In a high quality match, New Zealand led 9-1 and 15-7, but Ireland closed and the final scoreline of 16-12 had the losers celebrating harder than the winners, a clash with Canada in Friday's final the reward.

The New Zealand triple have flourished after a forgettable opening day.

A draw against the Philippines and a loss to Namibia prompted a tactical switch, Sean Johnson moving to lead and Rowan Brassey to two for skip Gary Lawson.

They are unbeaten from that point, and will approach the final with confidence.

New Zealand are defending champions, and the unflappable Brassey, at his sixth world championships, was part of that winning combination.

Scotland were also unbeaten in the second stage to qualify top of their group.

Jim McIntyre at lead and skip David Peacock will be joined by Willie Wood, 66, in his eighth world event, plus an expected crowd of thousands.

The New Zealand pair also benefited from a tactical change for the last three matches, as Russell Meyer went to skip, and Paul Girdler asked to lead.

Manager Peter Shaw said the team would not have won bronze in the original Meyer-Girdler batting order in operation since 2000.

"Paul was a bit shellshocked when we suggested the switch. But we talked through the way we have been playing in an honest and open fashion.

"That's an important part of the team culture we have built, and to his credit Paul buckled down to the task off the front and did a great job."

NZ results

(Round 4, Championship)

Pairs - Russell Meyer and Paul Girdler (NZ) bt Donny Piketh and Gerry Baker (South Africa) 15-13

Triples - Sean Johnson, Rowan Brassey and Gary Lawson (NZ) bt Chris Dagpin, Angel Morales and Peter O'Donnell (Phillipines) 26-9

(Round 5:

Pairs - Girdler and Meyer (NZ) beat Noel Graham and Jim Baker (Ireland) 16-12

Triples - Johnson, Brassey and Lawson (NZ) beat Andrew Jones, Kieran Day and Ian Stamp (Kenya) 27-9

- NZPA