Bowls up-and-comers in show

Whanganui academy bwolers off to Intercentre Under 8s tournament in Christchurch.

Expectations are high for up-and-coming Whanganui bowlers to make post section play at the National Intercentre Under 8s championships in Christchurch this weekend.

Both the men and women's academy players with less than eight years experience in the game have been working hard over recent months to prepare for this three-day competition starting tomorrow and finishing Sunday.

Men's manager/coach Mike Morgan said his squad would be up against 21 teams from other centres nationwide competing for top honours.

"The selected men's teams for Christchurch all have shown a high standard of play during the season and should rise to the occasion and have every chance of making post section play," Morgan said.

Meanwhile, Reen Stratford, one of three women's selector/coaches and the current New Zealand pairs champion, was also hopeful of the squad making post section play.

"This is a tough competition and while it has only been going four or five years Bowls NZ regard it as a major pathway to making New Zealand squads," Stratford said.

"The ladies have been training hard over the last six months working on their skills and we would like to think we can make post sedction play."

The teams

Men
Singles: Peter Cassidy(Wanganui East)
Pairs: Skip Kelvin Francis (Durie Hill), Gary Johnston (Wanganui East)
Fours: Skip Desmond Pirere (Laird Park), Colin Field (Wanganui East), Russell Duggan (Durie Hill), Russell Terrey (Aramoho)
Coach/Manager: Mike Morgan

Women
Singles: Debbie Wildermoth (Aramoho)
Pairs: Skip Judy Johnson (Wanganui East), Thelma Ward (Wanganui East)
Fours: Skip Jill Rolhoff (Aramoho), Margaret Blinkhorne (Wanganui East), Eleni Meimaris (Aramoho), Ann Morgan (Wanganui East)
Selector/coach: Reen Stratford.