Bowls: Victory after tense last day

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand's bowlers withstood a storming last-day effort from Australia to take the Transtasman Trophy at Pakuranga yesterday.

Although the individual tests had been won 3-1 by New Zealand after two days' play, the race for overall supremacy was still alive.

The Australians began strongly, and at one stage during the morning session led on all 10 rinks and threatened to snatch the lead.

But gritty last-end wins for the ever-improving New Zealand pair of Sharon Sims and Jo Edwards and the Anne Lomas-skipped four, which had Wendy Jensen as lead, Patsy Jorgensen at two and Jan Khan at three, swung valuable points New Zealand's way.

Singles star Marlene Castle could not repeat her second-day heroics.

She lost to Karen Murphy by four shots in the morning and three in their second clash of the day.

Mike Kernaghan, who took Steve Glasson to a shot in the second test thriller, was thumped 21-5 yesterday morning.

But he bounced back in their second clash to win 21-18.

The men's four again struggled against the re-jigged Australian four, losing 19-13 in the morning after leading 9-8 at one stage.

It was closer in the afternoon, but the Rex Johnston-led Australians got home by two shots after Peter Belliss' team had closed to within a shot on the second-last end.

New Zealand's pair of Russell Meyer and Paul Girdler had an up-and-down day.

Thumped 23-8 first up by the new-look pairing of Andrew Smith and Kelvin Kerkow, they bounced back strongly to win 12-11 in a fantastic game over 15 ends, which featured all the shots and the tension such close games can bring.

The women's development team scored the only 3-0 series whitewash, with their 4-0 third test triumph.

Jamie Hill continued his outstanding singles play for the New Zealand men's development team with a 21-19 win over Mark Strochnetter.

But Hill and Sean Robertson could not continue that momentum, and were beaten 18-11 in the pairs by Anthony Kiepe and John Bezear.

Ahead by 12 points at the break yesterday, New Zealand eventually won by 16 points to complete a transtasman treble in an encouraging build-up to the Manchester Commonwealth Games.