Kiwi four reflect on big day

Unsung Blackjacks heroes Mike Nagy and Blake Signal could be in for some gentle ribbing when they return to their day jobs in Australia with World Bowls gold medals.

The Kiwi duo helped skip Ali Forsyth and veteran Mike Kernaghan thrash Australia 23-4 in Saturday’s fours final in Christchurch.

The Blackjacks – described by New Zealand bowls great Peter Belliss as the most ‘‘dominant’’ team he had seen at world championships level – spoiled the farewell script for retiring Australian skip Mark Casey.

Forsyth won his first gold medal at his third world championships on the eve of his 37th birthday, while Kernaghan, 61, Nagy, 36, and Signal, 34, walk away with gold and bronze from their first world championships. l

Nagy, from Birkenhead, has been living in Sydney and playing for the strong Taren Point club for the last four years.

He said his game had benefited from ‘‘consistently playing top level bowls’’ across the Tasman.

He expected to return to some ‘‘good ribbing’’ about beating Australia for the gold medal. ‘‘I’ll never get away with it.’’

Signal is a Stokes Valley stalwart and has been playing at his hometown club most of his life.

‘‘Dad’s been a member there for 40 years. They’ll be having a few beers there [on Saturday night], for sure.’’

Signal made the move to the Nelson Bay club, in a scenic resort near Newcastle, eight months ago and, like Nagy, believes his game has improved ‘‘leaps and bounds’’ from regular top-level competition.

Kernaghan, who only returned to international bowls last December after a 12-year hiatus - said ‘‘each of us did our bit in a true team performance’’ during their 11-match unbeaten run.

‘‘I’m just ecstatic for the other guys, I’m too bloody old,’’ Kernaghan quipped.