O'Neill Emerged As Great Skip At Sydney

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31256, 31 December 1966, Page 15

O'Neill Emerged As Great Skip At Sydney

'THE exclusion of lawn 1 bowls from the Jamaican Commonwealth Games was bemoaned bitterly in New Zealand bowling circles. But it may have proved a blessing in disguise as far as New Zealand’s international bowling status goes.

Suddenly, a world bowling championship was arranged at Sydney last October and in a far more representative field than could have been expected at Jamaica, New Zealand won the blue riband event—the fours.

Skipping the New Zealand four was W. P. O'Neill, known throughout the bowling world as “The Bomber,” a sobriquet earned some years ago—and quite justifiably—for his propensity and his ability to drive.

Since T. T. Skoglund left the tournament arena, there has not been a great skip in New Zealand bowls. But the chubby O'Neill, with his quiet, but very sharp wit and great record in tournaments—he has been in 11 national tournament finals, although they have produced only three titles—has almost taken on the mantle of New Zealand’s senior bowler.

It has been said by many pundits that to be a great skip one had to have two particular qualities—a rasping voice and a commanding presence. O’Neill has neither. This dapper man is quiet, always has a grin for the good shot by his team, a resigned smile when the shot goes against him. He would be the most equable of bowlers. Last year at Christchurch he ploughed steadily through the singles, pairs, and fours, finishing in the last few in each division.

Through all his travails — and leading bowlers do suffer them—he never became upset. When the world bowls team was to be selected, O’Neill had to be regarded as a certainty but his position was not quite so definite.

He had skipped two fours to the final honours in a national tournament There was no doubting his ability with his mastery of the run-

ning shot to add or subtract vital points, but it was queried whether his pleasant temperament was what was needed to bring out the best in a team playing against fierce international competition. Whatever doubts may have been held were settled in a

most salutary manner. New Zealand won the gold medal —probably a better effort than winning at an Empire Games. And O’Neill played a superb game as skip. He was quiet but firm, drew, drove, chided, cajoled. In the final essence, the perfect skip.