Bowls NZ chairman defends officials over decision that match was 'thrown'

Bowls New Zealand chairman John Carter has jumped to the defence of his officials over an independent inquiry which found the national fours team threw an end during an Asia Pacific championship match last August.

In a statement, Carter confirmed the decision of the judicial committee finding Gary Lawson, Jamie Hill, Shane Sincock and Shannon McIlroy deliberately lost an end at the Kuala Lumpur tournament in Malaysia last August.

New Zealand, who had already qualified for post-section play, led Thailand 15-12 in their last pool match before conceding a four on the penultimate end and another shot on the last, to lose 15-17.

Canada needed to beat Thailand in their final section play match which followed the New Zealand-Thailand match, but unexpectedly lost.

They then lodged a protest which Lawson said was informal, but it got taken up to the world controlling body, who then asked Bowls NZ to investigate the allegations.

The players were stood down from the national squad and lost their high performance payments after it was determined the allegations had to be heard by the judicial commission.

Lawson has said he thought the whole action was a result of personality conflicts he had with Bowls NZ chief executive Kerry Clark.

But Carter said: "The Bowls NZ board considered the allegations were very serious, as throwing a game goes to the very heart of sport.

"With complaints made by the Canadian team about this incident and the referral to Bowls NZ from World Bowls, the board considered the allegations must be heard and determined by the independent Bowls NZ judicial committee, which was chaired by District Court Judge [John] Bisphan."

Carter said much of the players' evidence at the hearing conflicted with that of the Bowls NZ officials and their witnesses, however the committee stated that the "contentions of the [players] bordered on the extraordinary and indeed are unable to be believed".

"This decision confirms the very professional and credible way in which the Bowls NZ officials, including the [chief executive] Kerry Clark, national coach Dave Edwards and high performance leader Lyn Johnston have managed this matter," Carter said.

"The behaviour of the four players, skipped by Gary Lawson, was a terrible example to other players, including young and new international players and this decision makes it clear to all players that this conduct will not be tolerated."

Bowls NZ will make submissions to the committee on the penalties to be imposed on the players.

- NZPA