Bowls: NZ square Scottish test series

2.00pm

New Zealand men's bowls team have levelled their three-test series with Scotland, turning the tables to win the second test 7-4 at the Craigie club in Ayr.

The deciding test is at Northfield, also in Ayr, tonight.

Despite the windy conditions and slower greens running at 10 seconds, positional switches in the opening triples encounters proved crucial.

Manager and former international Peter Shaw restored debutant Jamie Hill, 23, to his combination with clubmate Rowan Brassey - the two have won back to back national fours titles together - and with Gary Lawson at skip they responded with a 25-16 win.

The switch meant Commonwealth Games singles bronze medallist Mike Kernaghan moved to lead for another settled partnership in Russell Meyer and Paul Girdler, and they too recorded a victory, 22 shots to 11.

New Zealand pressed home their advantage with two further wins from three for their unchanged pairs combinations, with success to the Brassey/Lawson and Hill/Kernaghan partnerships.

Despite a second defeat for what has been the favoured international pairs combination of Meyer and Girdler, New Zealand took a 4-1 lead into the final session of singles, needing two wins to secure the test and square the series.

They duly completed the task as Hill and Kernaghan each enjoyed their third wins to end the day unbeaten, and with Meyer also successful the winning margin was extended to 7-4.

A major aim of this leg of the three-week tour is to acquaint players and management with the Northfield third-test venue set to host next year's world championships.

Results (NZ names first):

Triples: Jamie Hill, Rowan Brassey, Gary Lawson 25, McLean, Paterson, Mackie 16; Mike Kernaghan, Russell Meyer, Paul Girdler 22 Lauder, Logan, McIntyre 11.

Pairs: Hill, Kernaghan 15, Mackie, Paterson 9; Brassey, Lawson 22, Lauder, McIntyre 17; Meyer, Girdler 7, Logan, McLean 19.

Singles: Hill 21, Paterson 16; Kernaghan 21, Logan 8; Meyer 21, Lauder 13; Girdler 13, McLean 21; Brassey 14, McIntyre 21; Lawson 19 Mackie 21.

- NZPA