Ireland determined to reach finals

IRELAND'S Phillis Nolan and Margaret Johnston, chasing a unique hat trick of women's world bowls titles at Leamington Spa, near…

IRELAND'S Phillis Nolan and Margaret Johnston, chasing a unique hat trick of women's world bowls titles at Leamington Spa, near Birmingham, are geared up for a 12 hour marathon which could decide their fate today.

They must win their round robin league to reach Saturday's world pairs final and, after a rest yesterday, they go into the penultimate day of league matches two points behind the leaders South Africa, and trailing the Springboks by 35 shots on shots difference.

Nolan and Johnston have a triple target today an emphatic victory over rank outsiders Holland in the morning, a win against South Africa in this afternoon's showdown, and a decisive victory against bottom of the league Japan tonight.

A winning treble would make the Irish pair favourites to sweep into the final in which they could play Fiji, Jersey or Scotland.