Venue switch hits bowlers

BOWLS: Marton's women bowlers were looking at Wellington maps yesterday after finding out the venue for their zone four interclub playoff has been switched at a late stage.
Co-incidentally with Victoria being Wellington's women's representative in the event, the division one playoff (originally at the Island Bay Bowling Club) has been switched back to the Victoria Bowling Club, which nestles right next door to the bus tunnel at the foot of Mt Victoria.
Marton, Wanganui's representative, had booked their motel as close to the Island Bay Club as possible ? while Wanganui's division two rep (the Wanganui Women's Bowling Club) had booked one as close to the Victoria club as possible.
Attempts to have the two clubs swap motels will not work, because one club was only able to book for one night because of the rush on accommodation in Wellington over the Wellington festival.
The switch of venue will add a little extra spice to the weekend, although Marton's first appearance in such an event is more than spice enough for the Enid Mullaney-captained team.
Mullaney says the team has had a couple of workouts with Wanganui coach Joy Lynch and is as ready as it can be for matches against Victoria (Wellington), Inglewood (Taranaki) and Paraparaumu Beach (Kapiti).
Mullaney says that hopefully Marton's inexperience at the bowls big time will not cause the players to become uptight.
"But we're all going down with the idea of having fun and we're working on the assumption that we have as many bowls as they will have," Mullaney said. "That's the idea anyway. I've said to them ? it's only another game."
Marton came through Wanganui's interclub before Christmas with flying colours, featuring an unbeaten run by singles player Ruth White and from the four skipped by Francis Whale.
White beat Syria Prescott and Karen Coombe during that competition.
Victoria, including Wellington reps Helen King (singles), Leight Griffin and Patricia Wischnowsky, looks the toughest opponent on paper.
The Wanganui men's division one representative tomorrow is Aramoho, going against Johnsonville, (Wellington), Alton (Taranaki) and Paraparaumu Beach (Kapiti).
Clearly Johnsonville presents a threat through the likes of singles player Rob Ashton and Brendan Giibson and Rod Leitch, but Paraparaumu Beach could be the smokey with the good form of veterans like fours skip Rex Holmes and Brian Howman.
Sean Johnson plays the singles for Aramoho, and much will depend on his strike rate.
Wanganui's division two representative is the Wanganui bowling Club.