Bowls: Pressure to keep rolling

Wanganui Bowls, John Belliss and Warrick Pinker

The Wanganui senior men's representative team may have claimed the Arnott Shield for the first time in six years in November, but it will be a real test to keep that momentum going in Palmerston North this coming weekend.

Wanganui are entering the representative Hexagonal tournament against Manawatu, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, Kapiti and Wellington.

"This is still a prelude until the New Zealand Intercentre is to be held this year at Wellington, March 27-30, which is the ultimate for the NZ title," said selector Lindsay Wheeler.

The Intercentre tournament will be for seven-player teams as opposed to the 10-man squads that will play the Hexagonal this Saturday and Sunday; so each player will want to be in top form to ensure they are not left out come March.

Wanganui defeated Manawatu and previous Arnott Shield holders Taranaki at the Wanganui East Bowling Club on November 16, the first time they had done so since 2007.

At the Palmerston North Bowling Club this weekend, they will play two singles games, two pairs games and a fours match during each round.

There will be five rounds, starting at 9.45am.

The Wanganui team is:

Singles: Sean Johnson, Bruce Winterburn; Pairs: Peter Belliss (s) and Alan Dickson, Cary Pinker (s) and Warrick Pinker; Fours: Ray Park (s), Kevin Coombe, Bernard Anderson and Ray Savage.