Kiwis take pairs title

By Clive Lindsay BBC Sport Online in Manchester

New Zealand broke their golden duck in the final event of the lawn bowls as their women's pairs defeated South Africa 22-12.

Jo Edwards and Sharon Sims kept their cool to come from behind and end South Africa's hopes of two golds in one day.

We hung in there and things started to go our way

Kiwi skip Jo Edwards

Bobby Donnelly had clinched the men's singles title moments earlier.

But it was the Kiwis' turn to celebrate in the pairs and skip Edwards said: "I'm absolutely thrilled. The dream has come true.

"We were under pressure early, but we never panicked.

"We hung in there and things started to go our way."

Although both women's pairs were unbeaten in the group and knockout stages, South Africans Ellen Cawker and Jill Hackland went into the match as slight underdogs.

But the New Zealanders, led by former world fours and triples gold medallist Sims, found themselves 8-3 down by the end of the seventh end.

A five picked up at the next was the turning point of the match.

The New Zealanders had established a 22-8 lead by the 12th end and, although South Africa staged a recovery, they had too much to do.

Bronze medals went to English pair Amy Gowshall and Lynne Whitehead, plus Joanna Weale and Anwen Butten of Wales.