Bowls: NZ unbeaten in men's pairs and triples

The New Zealand men's triples and pairs combinations remained unbeaten after the second day's play in the Asia Pacific bowls championship in Melbourne yesterday.

The new triples combination of Gary Lawson, Richard Girvan and Justin Goodwin beat Singapore 12-6, 14-2 last night to follow up on their 7-3 18-4 afternoon win over the Philippines.

They beat Japan and United States on Monday.

The pair of Russell Meyer and Rowan Brassey comprehensively beat China and Fiji yesterday.

They and Australia are the only unbeaten combinations in pool A, while the Philippines and Malaysia are unbeaten in pool B.

Australia have a 31-point better differential than New Zealand.

Men's triples skip Gary Lawson was impressed with newcomers Girvan and Goodwin, who are representing their country at this level for the first time.

"They're doing very well, I can't ask for much better. They are just getting the feel of things, but they have made a really good start."

Lawson thinks they have a good chance of emulating the 2003 team he was in who won gold in Hong Kong.

"I would like to say our chances are very good. There will be some big games coming up, but I'm sure if we play to the best of our ability we will have a very good chance of taking it out again."

In the women's pairs, New Zealand's team of Val Smith and Sharon Sims recovered yesterday after a loss to Norfolk Island on Monday to beat Singapore 12-9, 12-10.

They are in third equal place with the Philippines in pool A, behind unbeaten Malaysia and Norfolk Island, which has dropped one match. Samoa leads pool B.

The women's triple of Jan and Marina Khan and Jessie Ann Law beat China in a tiebreaker, 13-5, 4-9, 2-1 last night.

They have won two of their three matches.

The singles competition starts today, with Ali Forsyth taking the men's No 1 spot for the first time.

He has a match against Samoa. Jo Edwards taakes on Papua New Guinea in the women's section.

- NZPA