New Zealand have kept a firm grip on the Henselite Trophy by beating Australia 38-28 in the biennial trans-Tasman International Indoor Bowls match at Mount Maunganui Sports Centre.

Going into the final session, the host country and defending champions were ahead 29-25, and in a tense Saturday afternoon session managed to extend their lead in the face of a strong Australian challenge.

Tauranga and New Zealand Indoor Bowls member Fiona Wilson helped the Mat Blacks clinch the biennial international fixture between New Zealand and Australia at Mount Sports Centre. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Overall, New Zealand won the men's and women's singles, women's pairs, men's and women's triples and the mixed 8-bowl pairs. Australia took out the men's and women's fours, mixed fours, men's pairs and mixed 6-bowl pairs.

Two Tauranga members played their part on the final day of the biennial event, which was being held in the city for the very first time.

Tauranga's Fiona Wilson and Mat Black teammate Teri Anderson beat Monika Korn and Meredith Norton 16-14 in the Women's Pairs.

But in the Women's Fours, Wilson, along with Lois Randall, Sheree Holmes and Denise Clarkson lost 11-15 to Monika Korn, Meredith Norton, Julie Zaporozec and Jodie Jones.

In the men's side of the draw, Tauranga's Paul Smith was successful in the Men's Triples, winning 20-19 alongside John Zittersteijn and Grant Rayner.

Smith, Zittersteijn and Rayner, teaming up with Grant l'Ami, were unable to recreate victory, losing the Men's Fours 15-16 to Tony Simpson, Chris Price, Darren Vos and Simon Zaporozec.

The most successful players, with two medals each, were Teri Anderson and Ashley Diamond from New Zealand and Tony Simpson and Simon Zaporozec from Australia.

New Zealand picked up the first Australasian medal to be decided on the final morning of the one-off indoor bowls test.

Singles player Ashley Diamond (Canterbury), beat Arthur Finch of Australia 27-14, in their third game, giving Diamond a 2-1 win over Finch.

The final medal of the test match, for the men's triples, went to New Zealand.

Australasian Medals:

New Zealand 6 (Women's Singles - Teri Anderson; Women's Pairs - Fiona Wilson, Teri Anderson; Women's Triples - Lois Randall, Linda McCurdy, Denise Clarkson; Men's Singles - Ashley Diamond, Mixed 8-bowl Pairs - Ashley Diamond, Sheree Holmes; Men's Triples - John Zittersteijn, Grant Rayner, Paul Smith)

Australia 5 (Women's Fours - Monika Korn, Meredith Norton, Julie Zaporozec, Jodie Jones; Men's pairs - Tony Simpson, Simon Zaporozec; Men's Fours - Tony Simpson, Chris Price, Darren Vos, Simon Zaporozec; Mixed Fours - David Blyth, Ian Ogilvie, Caralyn Walsh, Barbara Hill, Mixed 6-bowl Pairs - Ian Ogilvie, Jodie Jones ).

Results: Day One Women's Singles: Teri Anderson (NZ) bt Anne Draffen (AUS) 26-15; NZ 2, AUS 0;

Men's Singles: Ashley Diamond (NZ) lost Arthur French (AUS) 20-23; NZ 0, AUS 2;

Women's Pairs: Fiona Wilson, Teri Anderson (NZ) bt Monika Korn, Meredith Norton (AUS) 19-16; NZ 2, AUS 0

Men's Pairs: Grant l'Ami, Gary Low (NZ) lost to Tony Simpson, Simon Zaporozec (AUS) 14-19; NZ 0, AUS 2

Mixed 8 bowl Pairs: Ashley Diamond, Sheree Holmes (NZ) bt David Blyth, Anne Draffen (AUS) 34-11; NZ 2, AUS 0

Mixed 6 bowl Pairs: Paul Wright, Maureen Pruden (NZ) lost Ian Ogilvie, Jodie Jones (AUS) 12-26; NZ 0 AUS 2

Women's Triples: Lois Randall, Linda McCurdy, Denise Clarkson (NZ) bt Caralyn Walsh, Julie Zaporozec, Barbara Hill (AUS) 20-13 NZ 2, AUS 0

Men's Triples: John Zittersteijn, Grant Rayner, Paul Smith (NZ) bt Chris Price, Darren Voss, Arthur Finch (AUS) 19-18; NZ 2, AUS 0

Women's Fours: Lois Randall, Fiona Wilson, Sheree Holmes, Denise Clarkson (NZ) bt Monika Korn, Meredith Norton, Julie Zaporozec, Jodie Jones (AUS) 27-17; NZ 2, AUS 0

Men's Fours: Grant l'Ami, John Zittersteijn, Grant Rayner, Paul Smith (NZ) lost Tony Simpson, Chris Price, Darren Voss, Simon Zaporozec (AUS) 11-34; NZ 0, AUS 2

Mixed Fours: Paul Wright, Gary Low, Linda McCurdy, Maureen Pruden (NZ) lost David Blyth, Ian Ogilvie, Caralyn Walsh, Barbara Hill (AUS) 16-19; NZ 0, AUS 2

Progress Score after the first day of three: New Zealand 12, Australia 10.

Day 2 results: Men's Singles: Ashley Diamond (NZ) 23 bt Arthur Finch (AUS) 18

Men's Pairs: Grant l'Ami, Gary Low (NZ) 18 lst Tony Simpson, Simon Zaporozec (AUS) 19

Men's Triples: John Zittersteijn, Grant Rayner, Paul Smith (NZ) 20 lst Chris Price, Darren Vos, Arthur Finch (AUS) 25;

Men's Fours: Grant l'Ami, John Zittersteijn, Grant Rayner, Paul Smith (NZ) 16 drew Tony Simpson, Chris Price, Darren Vos, Simon Zaporozec (AUS) 16

Women's Singles: Teri Anderson (NZ) 27 bt Anne Draffen (AUS) 14

Women's Pairs: Fiona Wilson, Teri Anderson (NZ) 23 bt Monika Korn, Meredith Norton (AUS) 16

Women's Triples: Lois Randall, Linda McCurdy, Denise Clarkson (NZ) 29 bt Caralyn Walsh, Julie Zaporozec, Barbara Hill (AUS) 9

Women's Fours: Lois Randall, Fiona Wilson, Sheree Holmes, Denise Clarkson (NZ) 10 lst Monika Korn, Meredith Norton, Julie Zaporozec, Jodie Jones 18

Mixed fours: Paul Wright, Gary Low, Linda McCurdy, Maureen Pruden (NZ) 13 lst David Blyth, Ian Ogilvie, Caralyn Walsh, Barbara Hill (AUS) 17

Mixed 6-bowl pairs: Paul Wright, Maureen Pruden (NZ) 14 lst Ian Ogilvie, Jodie Jones (AUS) 21

Mixed 8-bowl pairs: Ashley Diamond, Sheree Holmes (NZ) 20 bt David Blyth, Anne Draffen (AUS) 13.

Day 3 results: Women's Singles: Teri Anderson (NZ) 27, Anne Draffen (AUS) 15

Women's Pairs: Fiona Wilson, Teri Anderson (NZ) 16, Monika Korn, Meredith Norton (AUS) 14

Women's Triples: Lois Randall, Linda McCurdy, Denise Clarkson (NZ) 12, Caralyn Walsh, Julie Zaporozec, Barbara Hill (AUS) 28

Women's Fours: Lois Randall, Fiona Wilson, Sheree Holmes, Denise Clarkson (NZ) 11, Monika Korn, Meredith Norton, Julie Zaporozec, Jodie Jones (AUS) 15

Men's Singles: Ashley Diamond (NZ) 27, Arthur Finch (AUS) 14

Men's Pairs: Grant l'Ami, Gary Low (NZ) 16, Tony Simpson, Simon Zaporozec (AUS) 16

Men's Triples: John Zittersteijn, Grant Rayner, Paul Smith (NZ) 20, Chris Price, Darren Vos, Arthur Finch (AUS) 19

Men's Fours: Grant l'Ami, John Zittersteijn, Grant Rayner, Paul Smith (NZ) 15, Tony Simpson, Chris Price, Darren Vos, Simon Zaporozec (AUS) 16

Mixed Fours: Paul Wright, Gary Low, Linda McCurdy, Maureen Pruden (NZ) 14, David Blyth, Ian Ogilvie, Caralyn Walsh, Barbara Hill (AUS) 13

Mixed 6-bowl Pairs: Paul Wright, Maureen Pruden (NZ) 17, Ian Ogilvie, Jodie Jones (AUS) 13

Mixed 8-bowl Pairs: Ashley Diamond, Sheree Holmes (NZ) 17, David Blyth, Anne Draffen (AUS) 16