Bowlers need self-confidence

Press, 13 April 1984, Page 10

Bowlers need self-confidence

Why is it that New Zealand can not beat Australia at bowls? The simple answer that “they are better than us” does not altogether ring true, although it must be conceded that the records would certainly indicate that this is the case. Since the Inter-Dominion test series was introduced six years ago, New Zealand has been successful only once. This was when it scraped home on the points differential at Auckland in 1980. In every other year Australia has been a convincing winner, as it was when it won the latest series, sponsored by the United Building Society, at Geraldine last week, two tests to one.

Over these six years the Australians have used considerably more players than New Zealand, and that the Australian team does change so much from year to year is indicative of the wealth of good players across the Tasman.

Two years ago the stars of the Australian team that played in Christchurch were Rob Parrella and Denis Dalton. Both are exceptionally talented players and with experience of New Zealand greens behind them it was thought that they would be just about automatic selections this time.

Bobby King, who a year or two ago was being lauded as the best bowler in the world after the Eoglish-

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man, David Bryant, and closing the gap fast, was another who was expected to find his way to Geraldine. Yet none of the three won selection, the only one who might have been ruled out for reasons other than ability being Parrella. He, apparently, has fallen foul of Australian bowls authorities, and did not even get invited to the trials.

However, just before the team came to New Zealand Parrella is said to have gained a lot of satisfaction by outlasting most of the team in a major Sydney tournament. But whereas Australia has chopped and changed its teams in recent years, and the five players it had at Geraldine were all basically skips, New Zealand has re-

KEVIN McMENAMIN

tained much the> same players and tried to mould a team of specialists. The New Zealand team this time was, therefore, an experienced one, and while Nick Unkovich might feel that he has something in common with Parrella, it could not have been any stronger. And there is no doubt, that for the most part the New Zealanders played well. Phil Skoglund, for one, was as good as he ever was, Jim Scott was magnificent at times and the other three, Morgan Moffat, Rowan Brassey and Peter Beiliss, all played creditably. Yet Australia was still able to finish a deserving winner. Over-all it is not that the Australians played that much better bowls, but what was very apparent was that there was a dedication and professionalism about their play that gave them an edge right from the start.

Australian self-confid-ence, perhaps, but in a game like bowls self-confid-ence counts for a lot. Even after they had lost the first test the Australians were not too worried, and when asked that night why he thought they would still win the series one Australian replied: “Because our desire to win is greater." Therein may the difference be-

tween the teams. Nevertheless, there were good practical reasons why the Australians thought they could come back. The day before the first test, they had played on a fast-run-ning green at Oamaru, and it took them time to adjust to the more-holding surface at Geraldine.

For New Zealand to win the series it was almost vital that Beiliss beat his singles rival, Ken Williams, at least twice. He managed it once, in the first test, and came close in the third, but over-all Williams was the better player and their results were what decided the series.

Belliss was probably the least impressive of the New Zealanders. His singles play fluctuated and he struggled throughout in the pairs, where he led for Skoglund. It would be unfair to b]ame Beiliss for New Zealand's

defeat, but without him at his very best for the whole three days New Zealand could not really have expected to do any better. But those who watched the series throughout were still of the view that man-for-man there was very little to choose between the players. It is when this is the case year after year, and on greens both home and away, that the question arises as to why it is Australia always finishes on top. Next year the venue will be Adelaide, and there is a distinct possibility that the New Zealand team will cross the Tasman twice next summer. Bowls is expected to be part of a newconcept Australian Games to be held in Sydney in late January, and New Zealand has just about been promised a bowls invitation. Before then, though, the two teams at Geraldine will be rivals at the world championships in Aberdeen in July and while New Zealanders invariably struggle on British greens all is far from lost.

This is still a very competent New Zealand team, and given the all-important breaks, could well pick up a medal or two. The biggest challenge for the team, and its manager-coach, Kerry Clark, is to match the Australian attitude of confidence to the point where failure is something that only happens to others.