Tourney will measure strength of local talent

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The final men's and women's squads for the annual Hexagonal bowls competition in Palmerston North this weekend have been announced.

The 10-strong squads will play their counterparts from Hawke's Bay, Manawatu, Kapiti Coast, Wellington, Wanganui and Taranaki.

"This competition will measure our strengths against those centres with hopefully a positive result," said men's manager Mike Morgan.

Last year, both Wanganui teams came fourth, although in the women's draw they were only two games away from winning the title in a very competitive grade.

The women's team is selected from the two teams of seven players who finished runnerup on combined points at the quadrangular series last weekend against Manawatu, Canterbury and hosts Wellington in Lower Hutt.

"There were favourable comments from spectators and teams Wanganui played against," said Aka Alder.

She and coach Chris Waterson agreed the team's performance had improved throughout and they were to be commended.

In addition, Wanganui men's and women's academy teams will play tomorrow at the Wanganui East Bowling Club against academy teams from Taranaki, Wairarapa, and Wellington.

The Wanganui teams are:

Hexagonal.

Men - Singles: Bernard Anderson, Alan Dickson. Pairs: Ian Porteous (s), Gavin Scrivener; Lindsay Bourne (s), Glen Springer. Fours: Ray Park (s), Peter Head, Phil Corney, Tony McCrae. Coach/Selector: Lindsay Wheeler; Manager: Mike Morgan.

Women - Singles: Dianne Patterson, Lesley Bourke. Pairs: Anne Loveridge (s), Marlene Foster; Elizabeth Anderson (s), Maria Klitscher. Fours: Marilyn Constatine (s), Pauline Pirere, Eileen Geddes, Pam Burgess. Coach/Selector: Chris Waterson; Manager: Aka Alder.

Academy

Men - Singles: Peter Cassidy; Pairs: Gary Johnston, Gene Ridgway; Fours: Desmond Pirere, Colin Field, Colin Wright, Taylor Broughton. Selector: Lindsay Wheeler. Manager: Mike Morgan.

Women - Singles: Debbie Wildermoth; Pairs: Jill Rohloff, Denise Taylor; Fours: Judy Johnson, Wendy Black, Gwen Broughton, Thelma Ward.