Bowls: Oz too good as push comes to final shove

New Zealand and Australia PBA Challenge players mingle last night. They are Murray Glassey (back row, left), Andy McLean, Jamie Smith, Rob Ashton, Craig Merrilees and Richard Corry (manager). Front row, left: David Holt, Laurie Guy, Roy Pearse, Ben Twist and Steve Halmai. Photo / Duncan Brown

When you live and breathe bowls it's only logical to assume winning should become a habit.

And so it came to pass last night in Hastings when Australia won the annual PBA Challenge finals 3-0 against New Zealand at Bowls Heretaunga to claim the bragging rights for a 4-3 edge in their seventh faceoff.

"The whole series was pretty close but we had the form in the finals," Aussie top seed/manager Ben Twist said last night.

"The three games in the final were also tight so it's not a very good indication of how close it was," said Twist after he, David Holt and Ray Pearse took account of Kiwi top qualifiers Guy, Rob Ashton and homeboy Murray Glassey.

The third game between Pearse and NZ PBA No 1 Glassey went to a tiebreaker but the Aussie prevailed.

The tourists also triumphed 3-2 yesterday morning into the finals.

Pearse and Twist are co-ordinators at bowling clubs while Holt works for a bowls manufacturer.

"We get a lot of time to play bowls," said Twist.

He understood the tourney would be alternated between the countries after it was hosted for the first time in New Zealand.

"It's great for the tourney and while I don't know where it'll be hosted next year I'm sure it'll be a fantastic event," said the 26-year-old who won the individual title last night after losing to Ken Walker last year although he played team-victory card.

He thanked sponsors Club Hastings and hoped to return next time after a memorable experience.

Guy, who came as a late replacement for an injured Walker, became the top qualifier for the finals as No 5.

The 59-year-old Fuji Xerox accounts manager from Wellington said it was an honour to represent his country and qualify automatically for next year as Kiwi No 6.

"It's the first time I've represented New Zealand in any sport. I'm more famous for my brother, Steve Guy, who represented the country in Davis Cup tennis and now lives and coaches in Germany. I played soccer up to national league level but I love my bowls."

After he retired from soccer, Guy had knee replacement and bowls was all he could play for the past 15 years.

"I go to the nationals all the time but to represent New Zealand and to get the silver fern and a jacket is a privilege," he said.

No doubt, the opportunity for national honours proved to be the catalyst for the seven-year PBA bowler who came prepared but didn't place any high expectations on himself.

"Australian players are class players. They've won Commonwealth Games gold medals and they've won world championship titles so we were always the underdogs," he said, despite the Kiwis going in as depending champions.

Guy beat Twist in the preliminaries which proved to be the Aussie gun's only loss of the tourney.

"Unfortunately I couldn't replicate that in the final," he lamented.

Guy emphasised the Aussies were "man for man" better than their Kiwi counterparts.

"Bowls is their profession and they play more than us. None of us do that professionally because we have fulltime jobs and play when we can."

He couldn't wait to travel across the ditch for next year's tourney, mindful wherever it would be hosted the facilities would be "fantastic".

"The Aussies are going to be favourites again but we're rich in New Zealand. We've got the silver ferns on our shirts so we'll try to beat the Aussies," he said, relishing the opportunity to level the series 4-4.

He echoed twist's sentiments, saluting Bowls Heretaunga and Club Hastings for "putting on a very classy effort in the last three days".

"All the Aussie guys have enjoyed the spirit, camaraderie and facilities for a successful tourney even though we didn't win."