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No 144: Clark and Jolly win gold (1974)
Two Otago bowlers, Gordon Jolly and Kerry Clark, were members of the New Zealand fours team that won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch in 1974.
The four won its first game at the Woolston Workingmen's Club, beating Canada 21-11, and ended the competition with 10 wins. Its only losses were to Australia and Wales.
Australia and Wales were less consistent than the New Zealand team, which also included Dave Baldwin and John Somerville.
Australia ran New Zealand close and at one time it looked as though the gold medal would be decided on points differential.
But in their final match the New Zealand four trounced Hong Kong 33-9 and Australia was beaten by Papua New Guinea.
Jolly and Clark later played major roles in the administration of New Zealand bowls, Jolly as secretary for a long term and Clark the chief executive.