Bowls: Congdon's change of pace

Old test cricketers don't all fade away or find jobs as radio and television commentators.

Some, as former New Zealand captain Bevan Congdon is doing, find a new life as lawn bowlers good enough to compete at the national championships in Auckland.

Congdon, despite taking up the game only two years ago, was lead for a Howick four which began yesterday's section qualifying rounds.

His four had mixed fortunes, a win and a loss. But despite the wet conditions and having to play with borrowed bowls because of a mishap before Christmas, Congdon said he enjoyed the experience.

"It's a lot harder game than it looks," he said. "But if you've bowled a few outswingers in cricket, it helps give you some idea."

Congdon lost his bowls, which were in the boot of his car when it was stolen before the holiday break.

He said yesterday that he was very much a learner but had been fortunate with the coaching and advice at the Howick club.

He was still in the process of working out some of the basic mechanics of the game and which stance and delivery best suited him.

"Bowls is probably the most friendly game I've played and there is such a good cross-section of people," he said.

But without specifying any particular sport or code, Congdon hinted that he didn't agree with the way commercialism had changed some basic values.

"I'm not too sure whether sport provides the balances of life that it used to," he said. "That's something bowls has to guard against."

Congdon said his wife, Shirley, had taken up bowls first, and it was her enthusiasm which led him to also have a go.

Up until two years ago his main sport since he bowed out of the New Zealand cricket side at the age of 40 in 1978 had been golf, in which he had reached an eight handicap.

He was still playing golf and enjoying it. But the time was coming when he might have to make a choice.

While soundly beaten in the opening game yesterday, it was a creditable first-up effort against a strong composite lineup of Taranaki representatives Ian Mahoney, Gary Lilley - father of rugby player Daryl - and Brett Hassall, and former national champion Justin Goodwin as a late replacement.

Congdon's leading won him a tribute from his opposite, Hassall: "He bowls well for someone who's only been playing two years."

Shirley Congdon also had a useful day. She was lead in the Howick four skipped by Beverley Blucher which ran the Sharon Sims-skipped four close.

Though there was not too much pressure yet because teams could afford two losses and still qualify, there were upsets.

In the women's championship the defending titleholders, the New Lynn four skipped by Maureen Parker, dropped their first match, and former world champion Patsy Jorgensen, who has had a miserable tournament, lost twice.

The Rob Ashton-skipped composite four which contains new singles champion Dwayne Cameron also lost first up, as did the Leo Leonard-skipped four which includes 2003-04 champion Ali Forster.

Other leading skips Gary Lawson, Rob Brassey and Kelvin Scott all had comfortable wins.