Bowls: NZ team leaves for Australia

The New Zealand bowls team depart for Australia today seeking to repeat their medal-winning feats at the Asia Pacific championships two years ago.

A 10-strong team won three gold, three silver and two bronze, and brought home the men's and women's team prizes in 2001.

All five members of the women's team won medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and singles exponent Marlene Castle and the pair of Sharon Sims and Jo Edwards will defend their Asian Pacific crowns.

Russell Meyer and Paul Girdler will also defend their 2001 pairs title.

New Zealand teams. -

Men: Singles, Russell Meyer (Warilla, Australia); pairs, Meyer and Paul Girdler (Dunedin); triples, Jamie Hill (North Harbour), Sean Johnson (Wanganui) and Gary Lawson (Canterbury); fours, Hill, Johnson, Girdler, Lawson.

Women: Singles, Marlene Castle (Auckland); pairs, Sharon Sims (Manawatu) and Jo Edwards (Nelson); triples, Wendy Jensen (Counties), Jan Khan (Canterbury) and Castle; fours, Jensen, Khan, Sims and Edwards.

- NZPA