Bowls: Meyer safe, fours under pressure in Scotland

8.20am

New Zealand's Russell Meyer today completed two further singles wins to book a place in the championship rounds at the men's world bowls championships in Ayr, Scotland.

But the four under skip Gary Lawson find themselves under pressure to progress after one win from two matches today left them needing to beat Australia in the final qualifying round tomorrow.

A loss to Australia will almost certainly see Lawson's team consigned to playing in the plate competition for places 13 to 24.

They could still advance via shots differential if they lost and Canada beat Jersey.

There was no hint of trouble for Lawson as his combination powered their way to a 14-0 lead against Jersey today en route to a convincing 27-7 win.

But they encountered problems in the afternoon against Canada, skipped by newly crowned pairs world champion Ryan Bester, 19.

New Zealand fashioned a 13-7 lead with five ends to play, but then conceded one, three and three to be behind 13-14.

A three created a 16-14 advantage playing the last, only for New Zealand to drop another three on the last to lose 16-17.

In the singles, Meyer beat Malaysia's Mohammed Abdullah 21-16 in the morning round, and then appeared to be cruising to victory over world champion of champions singles champion Douw Calitz, of Namibia.

Calitz rallied from 7-20 down to trail 15-20 before Meyer closed out the match 21-15.

Meyer is now assured a top three finish in his pool with a match to spare.

His final round match against Australia's Steve Glasson tomorrow will still carry enormous importance.

Both have four wins and are safely through to the next stage, but the winner will avoid favourite, world No 1 Marshall, of Scotland, in the second phase.

NZ results:

Singles: RUSSELL MEYER (NZ) 21 Mohammed Affendy Tan Abdullah (Malaysia) 16, MEYER 21 Douw Calitz (Namibia) 15.

Fours: SEAN JOHNSON, PAUL GIRDLER, ROWAN BRASSEY and GARY LAWSON (NZ) 27 Alan Shaw, Derek Boswell, David le Marquand and Lee Nixon (Jersey) 7, NZ 16 Keith Roney, David Brown, Wayne Wright and Ryan Bester (Canada) 17.

Standings in New Zealand pools after four rounds:

Singles: Australia 4 wins +46 differential 1, NEW ZEALAND 4 wins +21 2, Malaysia 2 wins +14 3, Canada 1 win -21 4, Namibia 1 win -23 5, Samoa 0 wins -37 6.

Fours: Australia 4 wins +35 1, Canada 3 wins +19 2, NEW ZEALAND 2 wins +58 3, Jersey 2 wins -20 4, Kenya 1 win -30 5, Samoa 0 wins -62 6.

- NZPA