Big weekend for reps

TEAM LEADER: Bob McIlroy captains the Gisborne East Coast men’s team to play Hawke’s Bay in Napier this weekend in an annual intercentre bowls fixture. File picture by Paul Rickard

BOWLS

Gisborne East Coast representative bowlers travel to Napier this weekend to play Hawke’s Bay in an annual intercentre fixture.

For the first time in its history, the event is being sponsored — by Property Brokers (Gisborne-Wairoa-Hawke’s Bay).

The 32-strong Gisborne East Coast team face two days of very competitive play at the Bowls Napier venue.

At stake will be the Challenge Trophy, held by Hawke’s Bay.

The bowlers from each centre have been split into four eight-person teams. A total of 64 players will be on the greens tomorrow afternoon and for most of Sunday.

Singles games will be 25 shots, pairs 18 ends and fours 15 ends, with a time limit of two and a half hours a game.

Gisborne East Coast players will travel to Napier tomorrow morning and are scheduled to arrive at the venue for lunch at 11am, with play expected to start around midday.

In the first round, eight games of singles, four of pairs and four of fours will be played simultaneously, which will create plenty of interest for spectators.

The second round will be all fours games, which will test the versatility of the players.

Bowlers have an 8.30am start on Sunday morning, with the third round being played to the same format as the first round, with singles reversed.

Perhaps the last round will be the most crucial. Sixteen pairs games will be played at the same time, and in the past the trophy winner has sometimes been decided on the results of this round.

Play is scheduled to finish around 1.30pm on Sunday. Lunch and the trophy presentation follow.

GEC centre men’s selector Ben Brown has named the following players for the event: Bob McIlroy (team captain), Arthur Hawes, Steve Goldsbury, Jamey Ferris, Mal Trowell, Tim Sherriff, Robin Jefferson, Ricky Miller, Dave Beattie and Charlie Ure (Gisborne); Brent Smith and Vern Withey (Wairoa); George Vaotuua and Willy Murray (Kahutia); and Ben Elkington and Mark Walker (Tolaga Bay).

GEC centre women’s selector Bobbie Beattie’s team is: Carol Hawes, Tanya Harrison, Lesley McIntosh, Dayvinia Mills, Lyn Trueman and Queenie Takurua (Gisborne); Jan Powell, Val McGreevy, Joy Davis and Erin Sutherland (Poverty Bay); Glenda Kapene and Donna Smith (Wairoa); Lucy Shanks, Paige Richter and Marie Wright (Kahutia); and Sarah Brown (Te Karaka).

The Bowls Hawke’s Bay teams are at full strength and will be using this fixture as a form guide leading up to February’s intercentre octagonal event, which will be contested by host centre Taranaki, Whanganui, Kapiti Coast, Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne East Coast.