Dunedin's Kay George helped New Zealand wrest the senior transtasman trophy off host Australia last weekend.
George, a member of the St Kilda Petanque Club, took up the sport seven years ago and was representing New Zealand for the first time.
The New Zealand senior team, made up of six men and six women, beat its Australian counterpart 63-57 in Avoca, near Ballarat.
The Kiwis went into the final round needing to win one of six games to ensure the trophy came back across the Ditch.
It went one better, winning two games to increase New Zealand's overall record to 8-3 since 2005.
George was one of just three South Islanders to make the the senior or open team for the series. Colin and Marilyn Bunce, of Alexandra, also made the 24-strong national squad.
New Zealand continued its stranglehold on the open trophy, notching its eighth straight series win, 68-52.
It had the trophy in the bag with a round to play, and holds a 10-3 series advantage since 2003.
''Any time you get to beat the Australians it's good,'' George said.
