Teams named to break Taranaki's grip on tourney

ACADEMY ACTION: Wanganui's Wendy Black, at the 2013 Academy Hexagonal. She has been selected again this year.PHOTO/FILE A-061013WCSMBOWLS3

The Bowls Wanganui men's and women's teams hoping to break Taranaki's dominance have been named for the annual Academy Hexagonal Bowls Tournament this weekend.

The two tournaments for representative players with five years or less bowls experience will be contested between Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Wellington, Kapiti, Manawatu and Wanganui teams.

Men's games will be played at Wanganui Bowling Club, with the women at Castlecliff Bowling Club.

The Taranaki men have been champions since 2013, when they won two tournaments in the same year, while the Taranaki women also won their tournament in 2014.

Wanganui men's manager Mike Morgan said the two local teams represented the future of outdoors bowls locally.

"We are proud to be able to select from so many new players to the sport and hope that the trend continues, as it is a great game of bowls to be enjoyed by young and old. Maybe this year they can fulfil the promise that they have shown and, with the coaching of Joy Lynch of the men's team included in their preparation, we are sure they will perform very well."

Play will be on Saturday and Sunday.

The Wanganui teams are:

Men: Taylor Broughton (Castlecliff), Peter Cassidy (Wanganui East), Gary Johnston (Wanganui East), Laurie Hunt (Wanganui), John Messent (Aramoho), Michael Penn (Wanganui East), Desmond Pirere (Laird Park), Ken Smith (Wanganui), Gene Ridgway (Wanganui East), Blair Whiteman (Aramoho). Selector: Lindsay Wheeler. Manager: Mike Morgan.

Women: Wendy Black (Durie Hill), Margaret Blinkhorne (Waverley), Gwen Broughton (Castlecliff), Tania George (Aramoho), Carol Hughes (Aramoho), Judy Johnston (Wanganui East), Julie Porteous (Wanganui East), Jill Rohloff (Aramoho), Denise Taylor (Wanganui), Debbie Wildermoth (Wanganui East). Selector: Chris Waterson. Manager: Aka Alder.