What an exciting day it was for us kiwis on the world stage yesterday going into the finals of the World Champion of Champions for 2017. Dean had progressed to post section finishing in the top 3 in his section and I had progressed to the semi-finals securing the number one position in my section. Deans first game yesterday was big, for the fact that a win would mean he would definitely be bringing home a medal. So the bronze medal match for Dean was against Ireland's Barry Kane.

The conditions of the greens had changed immensely compared to the sectional play. Rain was pouring on the green during the mens bronze medal match and the clouds were constant. So with mother nature showing up, the green had slowed down about 3 seconds. This was not at all a worry or problem for Deans amazing performance yesterday, and from what I saw, him and his bowls were loving the pace of the green. Deans first set against Ireland saw him take the first set win 7-4, knowing that he only needed to draw the next set to take the game win, this is how the game was concluded. With Deans last bowl, he drove Barrys shot bowl out of the head to take the 7 all draw. And with that Dean knew he was coming home with a medal.

The last round of the day was the semi-final playoffs and all the winners from the morning post section game were to come up against the section winners. For Dean, his next battle was against the talented Derek Oliver from Scotland, and Dean never looked out of control during the whole match. Taking the first set win 10-5 he continued his solid performance going into the second set as he collected a full count of four on the first end and kept the lead winning the game 10-5, 10-7. Dean has now turned that Bronze medal to at least a Silver heading into the WORLD final today!!

As much as I was inspired by Deans amazing performance in the morning unfortunately I couldn't come away with the semi-final win. In the ladies half, it was a battle between South Africa and Wales to who I'd be meeting in my semi-final. With Wales taking the game win 10-4  6-5, It was going to be another face-off between myself and the current world bowls pairs gold medallist who I had managed to take the win from earlier in the event in the last sectional match.

Wales convincingly won against myself in our match taking the first set 8-2 and the second 11-2. Our first was a close first half, with only 2 multiples exchanged and the rest only being 1's conceded, playing the last end I had to score a 3 to get the set tie, but missing my conversion the first set win went to Wales. As for the second set Laura was on fire, with every first bowl played near perfection, I was constantly searching with my first bowl to find that new speed of the green. With me unable to take the second set win, Laura Daniels from Wales took the win with class and proceeds through to the final and I wish her all the best!

*Fun fact for the finals day* All section winners who proceeded through to the semi-final automatically, lost their game yesterday, compared to all players who won their post section game earlier in the day are all playing off in the final.

Best of luck to Dean in the final today, I know I will be cheering as loud as I can so he could hear the voices of everyone back home supporting him!