N.Z. Four Now In 6th Place

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 15

N.Z. Four Now In 6th Place

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent > EDINBURGH. With eight of the 13 matches played in the Commonwealth Games bowling fours, New Zealand lies equal sixth.

The surprise leader, Hong Kong, has gone even further ahead and looks set for the gold medal.

New Zealand had a taste of the quiet but deadly play of the Hong Kong four yesterday morning and was beaten 27-15. In the afternoon the Kiwis outplayed Fiji, 31-13, in their easiest game so far. CLEAR LEADER Hong Kong, whose precise play on the spongy Balgreen rinks has astounded even the locals, is two wins clear of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wales lies fourth, Australia fifth, and New Zealand' shares sixth place with Canada. A tremendous battle looks likely on the final Jay v.hen Hong Kong will play Scotland and Northern Ireland. New Zealand’s prospects of a medal now rely on an unbeaten run which, despite the ease of the victory over Fiji, is unlikely. Only P. E. B. Jones and R. Robson have maintained top form over the first eight games, and even i Robson faltered slightly Fiji. INCONSISTENT

The No. 2, G. J. Jolly, regained his touch yesterday, but the skip, R. L. McDonald, remains an 'enigma, often

doing the difficult things brilliantly and then failing on the easy tasks. There will be no play today as the bowlers will march in the opening ceremony, but the New Zealanders will be hard at it again on the following day with three ir.gged matches, against Canada, Wales and Papua-New Guinea. |

Results: — Seventh Round.—Northern Ireland 37, Guernsey 10: Hong Kong 27, New Zealand 15: Kenya 23. Malawi 18: Australia 33, Zambia 13; Fiji 22, Papua-New Guinea 20; Wales 26. Canada 18. Eighth Round.—New Zealand 31, Fiji 13; Guernsey 20, Malawi 17; Hong Kong 33, Kenya 7; Papua-New Guinea 24, Canada 13; Wales 20. Zambia 18; Northern Ireland 23, England 11; Australia 19, Scotland 12.