Bowls: McIlroy carries NZ to victory

Nelson-based Shannon McIlroy spearheaded New Zealand to an exciting win in the transtasman series in Brisbane on Sunday.

McIlroy, 21 and the youngest man to win a national title, completed a clean sweep in the singles by overcoming Australia's Anthony Kiepe 21-12, and also continued his strong partnership with Gary Lawson in the pairs.

That and further wins win by the Lawson-skipped four and the Richard Girvan-skipped triple gave New Zealand a 3-0 triumph in the men's tests, to offset the 3-0 loss by the New Zealand women in their series. But with the women having only lost the second test on a points differential the New Zealanders had by far the better overall differential.

It was NZ's first win in the series since 2006.