Impressive NZ women’s

The New Zealand women’s double sculls crew of Brooke Donoghue and Hannah Osborne finished second in their semifinal at the Sea Forest Waterway yesterday to qualify for Wednesday’s final – the first NZ rowing boat to do so at the Games.

They were beaten by an impressive young Romanian crew, who assumed favouritism for gold by heading off the Kiwis by 4.74 seconds.

The Netherlands won the second semifinal, with the NZ combination recording the third-fastest time of the two semis.

New Zealand men’s double scullers Chris Harris and Jack Lopas missed a place in the A final when they finished fourth in their semifinal

But Emma Twigg’s medal prospects in the women’s single scull event continue to bloom after the New Zealander romped to a win in her quarterfinal, sending her into Wednesday’s semis.

The 34-year-old was so far ahead in the third quarter of her 2000m race that the sec