N.Z. hope for gold

Press, 23 November 1988, Page 80

N.Z. hope for gold

PA Auckland Hopes of the New Zealand pair winning the gold medal in the world women’s bowls championships could be decided today. Millie Khan and Judy Howat play section leader Botswana this morning, aware that victory would take them to the top of section B. After Monday’s lapse, when soundly beaten by Scotland, the New Zealanders cruised to comfortable wins in the pairs over Argentina and Kenya yesterday. Khan and Howat chased every shot to improve their differential which could yet decide the section winner (and finalist).

In the afternoon Khan and Howat play the stillfavoured Fijians, who lost to Cook Islands yesterday morning before sitting out a bye. The Kiwis’ game on Friday morning — tomorrow is a rest day — will be against Zimbabwe, another team very much in contention. Competition in the other section is just as close. The England pair had its first loss of the tournament this morning going down to Rosemary McMahon and Joan Humphreys of Hong Kong. Mary Price and Wendy Linek led 10-9 and then 11-9 before Hong Kong scored a three on the

15th. With three ends to play it was 14-14. England then scored what appeared a decisive and winning three for 17-14. Hong Kong grabbed two for 1617 with one to play. Again the shot changed almost with each bowl until the respective skips had one to play. McMahon pushed the jack into the ditch to give her and Humphreys the two shots they needed for victory.

With McMahon unable to watch, Price played her last and appeared to have judged the draw for the win perfectly only to have the bowl drop agonisingly slowly into the ditch.