Bowls: Rain delays pairs play

SYDNEY - Rain forced play to be abandoned in the Kingscliff Invitation Classic Pairs yesterday, leaving the four New Zealand combinations to wait until today to see if they have made the finals.

In the men's event of the $A40,000 ($47,000) tournament, defending champions Russell Meyer and Paul Girdler are unbeaten after three rounds of section play in northern New South Wales.

Their next match is against fellow New Zealanders Peter Belliss and Rowan Brassey, who won the title in 1999 and 2000, and who have had one loss this week.

In the other men's section, Queensland-based New Zealander Bruce McNish and Brian Baldwin are also on two wins from three outings.

In the women's event, defending champions Jo Edwards and Wendy Jensen have had a win, a draw and a loss, but still have a slim chance of qualifying for their final.

The last two rounds of section play this morning have been shortened from the usual 21 ends to 10, with the men's and women's finals to be played in the afternoon.

Each winning pair will receive $A7000 ($8114).

- NZPA