Bowls: NZ wins gold at Asia Pacific champs

Gary Lawson puts the gold medal winning performance by his New Zealand triples team at the Asia Pacific bowls championships last night down to good team work.

"The boys played really well, we just hung in there. It was a great team effort, everyone had their moments, it was just a bloody good day," skip Lawson said after the 6-4, 14-2 win over the Philippines in Melbourne.

While the first set was tense and tight, the New Zealanders dominated the second set.

Lawson was defending the title he won in Brisbane two years ago, but this time he had newcomers to international play at senior level in lead Justin Goodwin and Richard Girvan.

He paid tribute to them for keeping their heads after they were unbeaten in seven round-robin games and then the quarterfinals and semifinals yesterday.

"They were just outstanding, as good as you can expect first up. They have got to be proud of themselves; they handled themselves well and played well."

The win was a timely one, especially as the New Zealand team for the Commonwealth Games is being announced later this month.

"Its really good to get a victory, especially since the team is being announced in a week or so. Id have to say while were pleased to win, we've still got a lot to work on, but hey we won 10 out of 10, so you cant do much better than that," Lawson said.

The selectors have been chopping and changing their lineups in the past two years with the Games in mind, but Lawson, New South Wales-based Girvan and Goodwin, from North Harbour, look to have put their hands up at a vital time.

They can relax now, but the hard-work stage of the tournament has arrived for the men's and women's pairs.

Russell Meyer and Rowan Brassey play United States in round seven this morning before the quarterfinals in the afternoon. Yesterday they beat Singapore and have comfortably qualified for the semifinals.

The women's duo of Val Smith and Sharon Sims play the Philippines today after losing to Malaysia yesterday. They remain in quarterfinals contention despite that loss.

In the singles, Jo Edwards made it three from three with a victory over Korea's Jung K Kim yesterday.

She said she was just starting to find her rhythm on the Melbourne greens.

"I am getting a few more bowls closer to the jack, so I'm feeling a bit more confident."

But in the men's singles, Ali Forsyth had a comedown from his win over world singles champion Steve Glasson on Saturday, when he lost to Fiji's Caucau Turagabeci 7-9 7-9 yesterday.

Forsyth now has to win two of his final four pool matches to make it through to the quarter finals, but he is in a better position than Glasson, who lost again yesterday.

- NZPA