Distinguished bowls field

Press, 5 March 1982, Page 17

Distinguished bowls field

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

The final of the Rothmans inter-centre bowls tourna-

ment in Dunedin this weekend promises to be as closely fought as any in the 14-year history of the event. For once the four centres one-would have expected to reach the final have done so and such is the calibre of the teams that the players’ names alone should be a. natural promotion in bowlsconscious Dunedin.

The quality is such, in fact, that more than half the 28

players involved are past or present New Zealand champions. Auckland has the most impressive line-up, with all its seven players national titleholders. The singles player is Bob McDonald; the pair John Malcolm and Ivan Kostanich and, possibly, the trump card of Nick Unkovich’s champion four of the last two seasons. Manawatu, the winner two years ago, will also have a

powerful hand to play. Phil’ Skoglund is its singles choice (and singles results almost invariably set the pattern), and the skips are Kevin Wing (pairs) and Vic Sellars (fours). It is only the quality of these two North Island teams which detracts from the two southern finalists, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Christchurch, as always, will be pinning a lot of faith in Morgan Moffat’s four and its clash with Unkovich could be the highpoint of the weekend. The recent form of Moffat’s partners, Peter Meier, Sonny Calder and Graham Stanley, offers Moffat every hope of an important win in his quest to get

back into the New Zealand team.

It will not only be Moffat who will have to “deliver” this time though. Neville Poole (singles) and Travis Coup (pairs) will between them have to win at least four of their six games to keep Christchurch in contention. And, in this company, this is a tall order.

The host centre cannot be written off either. It, too, has a proven four, skipped by Kerry Clark, and with the McConnell brothers as the pair and lan Dickison in the singles role Dunedin has excellent balance. If the competition is as cut-throat as is expected the result could depend on points scored for and against and

this means that decisive wins will be almost as valuable as the two points allotted for each game win. Auckland must start a slight favourite, with Manawatu on the next rung. The home green advantage may rank Dunedin next, which leaves Christchurch as the outsider. However, with team, rather than individual, effort all important, the finishing order could be quite different.