Bowls: Women's pair shrug off distraction to ensure medal

MANCHESTER - New Zealand's women's bowls pair Sharon Sims and Jo Edwards shrugged off the distractions of a team scandal and pouring rain at the Commonwealth Games to win at least a bronze medal today.

On a muddy Heaton Park green, they won their quarterfinal match against Australia's Lee Poletti and Roma Dunn by 17-7.

They were to have played the semifinal against Wales in the final session today but it was postponed when the weather forced play to be abandoned. Both the semifinal and final will be played tomorrow.

The New Zealand bowls team were rocked on Tuesday when John Davies of the disabled triples team was sent home for sexually harassing a Games volunteer at the athlete's village.

However, Edwards said they let neither the scandal nor the rain distract them.

"We've come here to do bloody well and win a gold medal so our thinking is, if things are thrown in front of you that aren't quite right, laugh it off, or flick it out of your mind and get on with the business in hand."

Sims said that setting up a practice green imitating British conditions at East Tamaki in Auckland had paid off today when the green played very slowly.

Manchester has been hit by rain for the last three days and the greens have started to show signs of stress, particularly the number six rink used for televised matches.

Even if Sims and they lose Edwards lose their semifinal against Wales, they are guaranteed a bronze as there is no playoff.

Wales easily beat Jersey 24-10 and have an identical record to New Zealand of four wins and one draw.

Sims, a Palmerston North quality manager, won two golds at the 2000 world championships in Australia. Edwards, a Nelson factory hand, is a Games debutant.

"To be in the medals at the Commonwealth Games first time, we're not finished now, but I'm pretty happy," the 32 year-old Edwards said.

The new pairing, who played together for the first time last November in the Asia Pacific championships, which they won, were earlier this year beaten by the Australian pair in the transTasman matchoff.

"We owed one them today. It's a good feeling," Edwards said.

Both New Zealand's singles players, Mike Kernaghan and Marlene Castle had their matches postponed today.

Castle has already qualified for the quarterfinals and will play her last section match tomorrow to decide whether she finished finishes top of her group.

Keeping the flag alive for the poorly performing men's team is singles player Mike Kernaghan. Like Castle his next game is merely to decide whether he finishes top of his group.

Men's Triples Physically Disabled Final:

Ivan Prior, David Heddle, John Robertson (Sco) bt John Gronow, Derek Dowling, Kevin George Woolmore (Wal) 12-8.

Men's Pairs

Pool B: Maswadi Aziz, Said Safuan (Mas) drew with Steve Rees, William Thomas (Wal) 17-17.

Women's Singles

Pool A: Margaret Johnston (Nir) bt Margaret Letham (Sco) 21-11. Lorna Trigwell (RSA) bt Helwig Labai (PNG) 21-7.

Pool B: Jane Rigby (Zim) bt Laura Mary Joan Dewald (Can) 21-19. Ahmad Siti Zalina (Mas) bt Alison Merrien (Gue) 21-13.

Women's Pairs Quarter-final:

Joanna Weale, Anwen Butten (Wal) bt Alison Birch, Sheila Syvret (Jer) 24-10 , Lynne Whitehead, Amy Gowshall (Eng) bt Donna Mcnally, Barbara Cameron (Nir) 16-7 , Ellen Cawker, Jill Hackland (Rsa) bt Margaret Russell, Joyce Lindores (Sco) 21-5 , SHARON SIMS, JOANNA EDWARDS (NZL) bt Lee Poletti, Roma Dunn (Aus) 17-7.

Play abandoned due to rain

- NZPA

Full coverage:
nzherald.co.nz/manchester2002

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