Bowls: No-fuss Kernaghan draws path for test-series victory

By TERRY MADDAFORD

There is nothing flashy about the way Mike Kernaghan plays his bowls. What you see is what you get.

But what he does, he does effectively.

Never headed, he gave New Zealand a winning start in the transtasman tests series with a 21-8 win over Adam Jeffery at Pakuranga and was 11-10 ahead in the second match when rain washed it out.

The New Zealand men took the first test 3-0 but the women went down 2-1 on the abbreviated first day of the three-test series.

In conditions made tricky by morning wind and afternoon rain, Kernaghan showed all his ability as a draw bowler.

Only once did he drive. Two or three times he played a "runner", but generally it was his immaculate draw play which won through.

Ahead 7-4 after seven ends, he raced to 14-6 after 12 and coasted home finishing 3, 2, 3.

It was little surprise Kernaghan hit his straps so quickly.

After winning 11 of 12 games in the Stoke Singles in November, Kernaghan kept his singles title at last month's Tower-sponsored nationals without dropping a game. Last weekend he won five-from-five for Dunedin in zone play.

"But that does not count for a lot at this level," said Kernaghan. "For me it is important to play internationally." His last outings at this level were as skip of the pair and lead for the four at the 1999 Pacific Games. This, then, is his first chance to play singles at this higher level.

"I'm learning how to play international singles. We had a tight game this afternoon before we were washed out," said Kernaghan.

"Adam is a very good player."

The New Zealand pair of Paul Girdler and Russell Meyer traded shots with Steve Glasson and Andrew Smith over the first three ends before scoring six shots in two ends for a 7-2 lead which they never relinquished, winning 17-10.

The Peter Belliss-skipped four dropped four shots on the first and sixth ends to trail 9-6 but fought back to score on the next six ends to lead 14-9. They dropped singles on the last three ends but still won the 15-end affair 14-12.

The women also had a winning start, with Marlene Castle's 21-17 victory over Karen Murphy in a 24-end battle.

The NZ women's pair of Jo Edwards and Sharon Sims lost 18-14 to Roma Dunn and Gordana Baric and the classy NZ four led 3-2 after three ends - but never again in going down 19-14 to the Willow Fong-skipped Australians.

Jamie Hill celebrated his 21st birthday with a 21-9 win over Mark Stronchnetter in the development test. Hill and Sean Robertson were 10-6 ahead in their pairs when it was called off.

The second test will be played today.