Bowls: Former bovver-boy Lawson saves the day

SYDNEY - He used to be the man who caused the crisis, but Gary Lawson was the man to have on your side in a crisis this week.

The 37-year-old Cantabrian returned to the New Zealand side after a five-year absence - and took centre stage again.

But this time for the quality of his bowls and a steady nerve, rather than the bovver-boy tactics that led to his extended stay away from the international scene.

New Zealand led 18-17 on the last end of the fours match in Thursday's transtasman test, but Australia held the shot and needed only a draw to take the test and series in the men's section.

Most expected a run shot from Lawson, but he signalled he would draw. The degree of difficulty raised a few eyebrows, but Lawson lined up his bowl and delivered, with intent. The bowl gently rolled onto colleague Paul Girdler's bowl and pushed it up just far enough to take the shot.

The Australians were unable to reply and the Kiwis whooped with delight. They had won 19-17.

"I had already played one down there [forehand side], so it was just a matter of correcting it a little," Lawson said after the match.

He was clearly delighted to have been an integral part of New Zealand's success, but was quick to praise his comrades - Girdler, Sean Johnson and Rowan Brassey, the lead and backbone of New Zealand teams for many years.

"It's good to be back, but it's not so difficult with a guy like Brassey in front of you," Lawson said.

Girdler and Johnson did their bit, with Johnson showing he is one of New Zealand's finest young talents by nestling a bowl right alongside the jack on that crucial final end. Australian Michael Wilks quickly whipped it out of the way, before Lawson chimed in with corrective action.

It was an extraordinary match, with the Kiwis down 7-1 early and then looking comfortable at 16-7 after 12 of the 18 ends.

The Australians pulled back the nine shots and then took the lead, before New Zealand regained it with a two on the penultimate end.

Lawson also praised the Australians: "They played some awesome bowls, their young fellas at the front were sensational."

Lawson earlier skipped Brassey and Johnson to a comfortable win in the pairs.

New Zealand won the first test in the men's series, lost the second and won the vital third test. Australia won the Trans-Tasman Trophy by virtue of their domination in the women, and men's and women's development team events.

- NZPA